Emerald

Emerald, known as Panna in Vedic astrology, is the green variety of the mineral beryl, coloured by traces of chromium and vanadium. It's one of the "big three" precious coloured gemstones alongside ruby and sapphire, prized for thousands of years for its lush, vivid green. Unlike most gemstones, emerald is expected to have visible internal inclusions — often called jardin (French for "garden") — which are considered part of its natural character rather than a flaw, provided they don't compromise transparency.

Emerald rates 7.5–8 on the Mohs hardness scale — durable, but more prone to chipping than ruby or sapphire due to its naturally included structure, so it needs a slightly more careful setting and wear pattern.

Colombian emeralds — particularly from the Muzo and Chivor mines — are considered the benchmark for the finest emerald colour: a rich, slightly bluish green with exceptional saturation, and they carry the strongest price premium. Zambian emeralds are prized for their strong, slightly cooler green and generally better clarity, offering excellent value. Ethiopian emeralds have emerged more recently as a high-quality, increasingly respected source. Nearly all emeralds on the market are treated with oil or resin to fill surface-reaching fractures and improve clarity — this is standard practice, but the degree of treatment (minor, moderate, or significant) materially affects value.