Identifying High-Quality Uncut Emeralds: A Guide

Question
hi, how will i know if i come across a good quality uncut emerald?
what am i looking for?  

Answer
Hello,

What you want is top green color and clean, like looking through green glass.  Light has to be able to pass without obstruction.  The only problem is, there are fake emerald rough out there that has sand impregnated in the green glass and made into shapes some what like crystals.  They do however have round air bubbles left in the glass which gives it away.  The hardness is not there either glass is softer than beryl (emerald).  But to play it safe you should use a refract-ometer to measure the refractive index.  Beryl has a unique index number as compared to other types of gem materials and synthetics.

You should study pictures of rough so you know what you are looking for from those pictures.

Good luck,

Steven D.Covey