What the wrist does to an emerald
Emerald sits at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. It resists scratching, but its natural inclusions make it more brittle than corundum, and the wrist is the part of you most likely to meet a desk edge or a car door.
- Low settings protect the stones. Look for emeralds set close to the metal rather than raised above it.
- Princess and round shapes are what this grid carries. Rounds have no corners to catch. princess stones sit edge to edge but should have their corners covered by the setting.
- Take it off for impact and for household cleaning, and never put it in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, which strips the oil nearly every emerald carries.
Matching green along the line
In a tennis bracelet the stones are judged together, and emerald makes this harder than most gems.
- Color must agree in hue and tone, or the line reads patchy on the wrist.
- Clarity should look even. Every emerald's inclusions are unique, and one cloudy stone stands out in a row of clear ones.
- Small emeralds lose color. Less depth means paler green, so bracelets need rough of deeper tone than a ring stone of the same quality.
Individual stones in a bracelet are not separately certified, which is standard. What we state is the total carat weight, the grade of the emeralds as a group and the treatment.
14K or 18K gold
This is a practical choice on a bracelet, not only a question of color.
- 14K gold is harder and holds its shape and settings better under constant knocks.
- 18K gold is richer in color and softer, and suits a bracelet worn for occasions.
Choosing by weight
Weights here fall into two groups. Bracelets under 0.50 carats total are fine, delicate lines suited to stacking and daily wear. Bracelets of 5 carats and above are full lines of emeralds and carry most of the color and most of the price.
