1.81 Ct. Emerald from Russia

This parcel is a single, precision-faceted emerald cut emerald, weighing 1.81 carats and measuring 9.40 by 5.70 by 4.71 millimeters. The cutting style is a classic step-cut, executed with tight, parallel facet planes on the crown and pavilion, producing the broad, linear flash that defines an emerald cut. The proportions yield an average depth of approximately 62 percent, a dimensional balance that favors color saturation while maintaining table openness for good visual accessibility to the stone interior. Truncated corners and calibrated step facets provide mechanical security and light control, and the excellent polish noted on this stone produces crisp facet junctions and minimal surface diffusion, enhancing both face-up brilliance and the crystalline transparency apparent in the photography.

Clarity is graded as slightly included when evaluated at eye level, a grade consistent with natural emerald material and with the expectations of experienced lapidaries. The inclusions present appear to be typical jardin structures, linear and planar growth features that are intrinsic to beryl, and they have been managed by the cutter to minimize windowing and to preserve consistent color delivery across the table. Because step-cut geometry exposes more of the stone interior than brilliant cuts, the cutter intentionally oriented facet planes to mask the most active inclusions along the length of the stone, a decision that preserves visual depth without sacrificing structural integrity. The enhancement is standard, conforming to accepted industry practice, and improves apparent clarity while remaining stable under normal wear. From a setting and care standpoint, the stone benefits from protective mounting at the corners and a low-profile bezel or four-prong guard, strategies that both mitigate chipping risk and maintain the visual plane of the step facets.

Color performance is the defining attribute of this gem, evaluated with intense color intensity and a highly saturated green that reads strongly face-up. The tone is medium to medium-deep, producing an immediate perception of chroma greater than its metric weight might suggest. Russian emeralds, and specifically Ural-sourced material, are known for a slightly cool undertone relative to some Colombian counterparts, and this specimen exhibits that characteristic subtlety, providing a vivid, slightly bluish-green that feels pure and saturated rather than overly yellowish or brownish. The emerald cut amplifies this advantage by presenting a broad table that allows the eye to perceive consistent saturation across the face, whereas finer brilliant faceting could fragment color into scintillation at the expense of perceived depth. The interplay of facet orientation and internal color zoning in this piece yields a lively yet even green field, a combination that collectors and connoisseurs prize for its aesthetic immediacy.

When compared to historically famous emeralds, this 1.81 carat Russian emerald occupies a different niche yet demonstrates qualities that recall the best attributes of legendary stones. Unlike monumental Mughal emeralds, which are celebrated for scale and carved inscriptions, this stone emphasizes proportion and optical purity, echoing the saturated chroma found in the most admired Mughal pieces but presented in a cut tailored for modern wearable jewelry. Relative to Colombian classic material, prized for pure, velvety green, the Ural provenance contributes a distinct cool saturation and crystalline clarity that is rarer in contemporary commercial offerings. In the context of Russian gem history, the piece resonates with the emeralds used in Imperial era Fabergé work, where cutters and jewelers selected smaller but intensely colored stones for refined settings and optical harmony. The unique value of this emerald lies in that synthesis: an intense, collector-grade color and an expertly executed emerald cut that together deliver the visual impact of a larger stone while maintaining manageable dimensions for custom mounting.

The Natural Emerald Company presents this gem as a technically refined and historically resonant option for serious buyers and designers. From a craftsmanship perspective, the cutter’s choices in facet geometry, depth percentage, and corner truncation reflect an understanding of how to maximize color return and durability in step-cut beryl. The documented standard enhancement is consistent with industry practice and is disclosed to preserve long-term value and ease of appraisal. For mounting, we recommend a protective design that leverages the stone’s rectangular proportions, such as a tailored three-stone ring, a low-profile bezel solitaire, or a tapered channel setting in a classically proportioned pendant. For investment-minded clients, the combination of Russian origin, intense color intensity, and excellent polish provides an uncommon value proposition in the sub-2 carat range. Please contact The Natural Emerald Company for laboratory documentation, light-view photographic sequences, and bespoke setting proposals, all of which we provide to ensure the gem’s technical characteristics and provenance are fully transparent for acquisition and placement.