If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.
All about emeralds
The beautiful green stone symbolises mercy, compassion and universal love, and is heralded in certain circles for its calming powers. The way in which the precious gemstone (which also happens to be the May birthstone, all you May babies!) is most often cut gave rise to the term ‘emerald-cut’, which was developed to highlight the richness of coloured gemstones.
There are several different types of emeralds on the market to consider when you start your search for the perfect ring.
Natural vs synthetic
According to the International Gem Society, a lab-created emerald still qualifies as a ‘real’ emerald, but not a natural one. Synthetic emeralds are some of the most valuable manmade gemstones, due to the time, energy and equipment needed to create them – but still not as valuable as naturally occurring emeralds.
Columbian emeralds are mined in Columbia (surprise!), and are renowned for their exceptional quality and deep, rich colour. Most of the world’s natural emeralds come from Columbia, followed by Zambia; experts say Zambian emeralds are generally cleaner and more saturated in colour than Columbian variety.
How to choose.Of the ‘four Cs’ that we’re told to keep in mind when choosing a diamond – colour, clarity, carat and cut– ‘colour’ is the most relevant to emeralds, say experts, and the most important to determining their value (along with carats). Bluish or pure deep green shades are the most popular but ultimately, if you’re choosing a stone for a piece of jewellery, you should pick a green that you like. People often choose lighter shades than they would’ve expected to like because they reflect more light, making them livelier and more brilliant than darker stones.
Potential downsides of an emerald ring
While there’s no question emeralds are a stunning and unique choice for your engagement ring, they do pose potential risk factors. As a particular brittle gemstone, they’re vulnerable to damage during everyday wear, as well as the cutting, polishing and setting process. Enter the emerald cut: the vulnerable corners in this style are faceted, providing a safer place for the setting’s prongs and helping protect against damage.
Celebrity ring-spiration
Emeralds were Cleopatra’s favourite gemstones, and were the top pick for several celebs before they walked down the aisle.
Halle Berry’s 4-carat ring, given to her by Olivier Martinez, was designed by French jeweller Robert Mazio and is worth an estimated $294,000 (AUD).
Olivia Wilde’s now-husband chose a brilliant-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of emeralds. “It went through Paris around 1921,” Olivia told Lucky magazine of the vintage bling. “It’s a bit of an aqua emerald, not a deep dark green. Jason said it reminded him of my eyes.”
Former First Lady Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy was nothing if not a style icon, and her choice of engagement ring was everything we wanted it to be. Bought from Van Cleef & Arpels in New York, it featured a 2.84-carat emerald-cut emerald and a 2.88-carat emerald-cut diamond.
Victoria Beckham has no less than 14 engagement rings (hubby David just keeps on buying them, and that’s the kind of love we want!). One of her pieces is a cushion-cut emerald set on a diamond band that’s been estimated to be worth up to $1.3 million.
Zoe Saldana, who’s married to Marco Perego, chose a pear-shaped emerald, estimated to be 8- to 10-carats and thought to come from Columbia’s Muzo mine. It’s flanked by trillion-cut diamonds and smaller diamonds, set on a white gold band.
Heidi Klum’s now-husband Tom Kaultiz proposed to the model in January 2019 with an emerald-and-diamond piece that’s thought to be worth nearly $44,000.
Though the pair are no longer together, the ring Bradley Cooper gave Irina Shayk is still a beauty: an oval-cut emerald surrounded by a halo of diamonds on a gold band.
Emerald rings to add to cart
02
Cartier Solitaire 1895
Price on application.
03
Temple & Grace Emerald and Diamond Split Band
$6890
11
Michael Hill Solitaire Emerald Ring
$2999
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If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.
If you’re looking for something other than a diamond to add some sparkle to your ring finger, emerald rings are a beautiful yet often-overlooked option. Favoured by celebrities from Olivia Wilde to Irina Shayk and classic style icon Jackie ‘O’ Kennedy, emerald engagement rings come in as many styles as you can imagine – and is stunning whether set in white gold, rose gold or yellow gold.
Alix Nicholson
Alix is a former magazine deputy editor with a passion for lifestyle, travel, beauty and wellness.
