The Urals emeralds (photo). Ornaments with Uralic emeralds

Emeralds are mined in the mountains of the Urals since the 19th century. The glory of the magnificent stones has long spread far beyond the borders of Russia. The Ural emeralds are appreciated all over the world, and the cost of some nuggets sometimes exceeds even the cost of diamonds.

Unique deposit

In many respects, the quality of jewelry stones is determined by the geological features of the place in which they were mined. The Mariinsky deposit in the Ural Mountains is considered unique. Its bowels are rich not only with emeralds, but also with other minerals. They mine alexandrite, phenakite, beryl. Surprising qualities of the Ural gemstones cause a high content of iron and chromium impurities. It is thanks to these elements that the Ural emeralds are considered to be among the best in the world.

Chemical Features

In fact, the emerald is a kind of beryl mineral, even the chemical formula for these stones is the same: Al2 [Be3 (Si6O18)]. Only the emerald has a much deeper green color. It is due to contained impurities of chromium. Emeralds are much more expensive than beryl, which is explained by their smaller distribution. Of course, beryl is extracted many times more. Especially rare nuggets of emeralds with good transparency, high weight, valuable color. The most expensive are the transparent Ural emeralds with a rich green color. In addition, the price depends on the number of cracks and other mineral impurities.

Classification by color

• Color number 1 - dark green and even bluish-green.
• Color number 2 - saturated green.
• Color number 3 - medium green.
• Color number 4 - light green.
• Color number 5 - slightly green, almost colorless.

Classification by purity

A real Ural emerald is a stone that always has inclusions. Stones without impregnations with a high color characteristic, especially of a large size, are in most cases falsifications. Jewelers distinguish such categories of purity:

• Г1 - with rare, almost not noticeable impregnations.
• G2 - with clots in individual zones, which can be considered without a magnifying glass.
• G3 - with clots or a network in the entire volume of the stone.

There are also intermediate values, Г2 + and Г3 +.

Ural emeralds in jewelry art

The Urals is famous not only for precious stones, but also for skilled craftsmen. Cutting is no less important than the color and purity of the stone. Ural emeralds are used to create jewelry, and are also used as a source of investment. This is not surprising - in fact, over the years the cost of a good stone in quality cut only increases.

In the Urals, there are several jewelry factories that use the noble emerald widely. In addition, the factories offer customers both faceted stones without rims, as well as polished cabochons. Some ingots of emeralds with low transparency and low color indexes are also appreciated in jewelry, sometimes even above ornamental stones.

Work with this precious stone is not only large plants and not only in the Urals. This stone fell in love with private masters. Emeralds of high quality, relating to the first group of precious stones, are mainly supplied for further jewelry use at certified enterprises. But the real talent and love for your work allow creating surprisingly beautiful jewelry and from simple nuggets. In the photo below - the work of a master from Slovakia, the Ural emeralds in silver.

The legendary collection of Zykina

Many people know that Lyudmila Zykina has always been famous not only for her unique voice, but for her love for the beautiful. Her collection of jewelry is famous all over the world.

Among other exhibits there are decorations with Ural emeralds. On the photo there is a ring of yellow gold, decorated with diamonds:

On the example of the favorite jewelry of the great Russian singer, we can be sure that not only gold and platinum cuts are suitable for this luxurious gem. Silver also perfectly complements the Ural emeralds. The photo below is a set of Lyudmila Zykina from a ring and earrings.

Of course, stones of low transparency are more suitable for silver, in which inclusions are visible. They are also beautiful in their own way, their unique structure is to be looked at again and again. The set described above is a wonderful testament to how the master of value and the natural beauty of the emerald subtly felt. Grinding gave the stones a shape that resembles the natural form of a nugget. And crystal-decorated schwenzes, hugs and pins emphasized the accessory of the gems to the first group of precious stones.

Another matter is transparent bright green emeralds. They place in a gold frame. A scattering of small diamonds emphasizes a deep noble color. An excellent example is a ring from the same world-famous collection.

Interesting facts about the Ural nuggets

On March 22, 2013, the Mariinsky deposit found one of the largest ingots in the world. Its weight is 1 kg, and the value is 5000 carats. It is a translucent ingot of bright green color.

Some emeralds, especially large nuggets, have an explosive character. This is not a joke - because of the stress inside the crystal, the emerald can explode!

And there are some that are not used to create beautiful ornaments, but for solid-state lasers.

In 1963 in the USSR was issued a postage stamp dedicated to the Ural emerald deposits. Since its circulation is limited, today it is of great value for philatelists. And the postage denomination of the stamp was 10 kopecks, which by Soviet standards is quite a lot.

The Ural emeralds also fell into the royal collections. It is these stones that adorn the crown of the Romanovs' house.

Certification

Ural Emeralds certified can be sold not only to jewelry factories that have relevant documents, but also to individuals.

Certification is needed to control the quality and protect the buyer from forgery. All the same, the purchase of a cut-off nugget is a serious business. Usually such acquisitions are made for the purpose of investing money, or the emerald is bought as a gift. In any case, this is not just a purchase, it is an investment of capital, sometimes even more reliable than in a currency, real estate or securities.

The certificate describes the weight of the stone, the shape it gave the jeweler, the weight in carats. And besides - two figures are always indicated via a fraction. For example, 2 \ 3. They denote that it is a stone of color No. 2 with a transparency of G3. That is, speaking in plain language, bright green with abundant impregnations.

Unfortunately, no certificate can describe the fascinating beauty of the stone, its unique color, depth, intricate dance of impregnations. All this is worth it to see with your own eyes.