0.77 Ct. Emerald from Afghanistan

This transparent marquise emerald, offered by The Natural Emerald Company, weighs 0.77 carat, and measures 10.10 x 4.22 x 3.15 mm, a slender length to width ratio that reads as elegant and elongated in hand. The cutter selected a mixed brilliant faceting scheme that marries a radiant crown with a precisely faceted pavilion, the combined geometry engineered to favor light return in a green stone of medium color intensity. At eye level the clarity is graded as slightly included, consistent with natural growth features and oriented inclusions typically encountered in emeralds, and the overall polish is excellent, delivering clean facet junctions and crisp facet planes that enhance scintillation without compromising the gem wake of color. Enhancement is standard, applied conservatively to stabilize surface reaching fissures and to enhance apparent clarity without masking natural character, and the gem is transparent rather than heavily included, which allows the mixed brilliant layout to maximize internal light dynamics while preserving the natural material qualities sourced from Afghanistan.

To understand the internal architecture visible under magnification, one must consider the emeralds geological history, a slow crystallization process that took place millions of years ago under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. This specimen formed within the beryl family, beryllium aluminum silicate, and acquired its green hue through trace chromium and vanadium introduced when beryllium bearing hydrothermal or pegmatitic fluids encountered chromium rich host rocks in the Afghan terrane. Over geologic time, episodic pulses of fluid chemistry produced incremental growth zones, and minute growth interruptions trapped liquid and gas inclusions that now read as characteristic slightly included features under loupe inspection. Tectonic activity that uplifted the host rocks created fractures and pathways for subsequent fluid pulses, and those micro fractures were preferentially sealed during late stage healing events or filled with silica and other secondary phases, features that explain both the existence of fissures treated by standard enhancement and the localized variations in saturation that give this stone its appealing medium intensity green.

From a lapidary and practical perspective the cutter at The Natural Emerald Company oriented the marquise to align crystal zoning with the long axis, a decision that preserves the most saturated material toward the center while minimizing the appearance of inclusions at the points. The mixed brilliant approach on this 10.10 x 4.22 x 3.15 mm platform balances pavilion depth and crown angle to achieve a measured overall depth near forty four percent of the mean dimension, a proportion that favors face up brilliance and resilience in small mounted designs. The excellent polish ensures tight light return and smooth facet transitions, and the marquise silhouette makes this piece ideal for east west or north south placements in bespoke settings, with protective prong or partial bezel work recommended at the pointed termini to prevent chipping under wear. For connoisseurs seeking a natural Afghan specimen with authentic formation history, transparent material, and thoughtful cutting to showcase medium color intensity at 0.77 carat, this emerald represents a well considered intersection of geology, craftsmanship, and practical jewelry design, and our team at The Natural Emerald Company is available to provide additional clarity images, facet maps, and setting recommendations to ensure optimal presentation and longevity.