How to Tell if an Emerald Is Real

Many "emeralds" are actually other green gems, green glass, or imitations built from several materials. Conduct several tests before you reach a conclusion one way or the other, since results are not always definitive without specialized gemology equipment. If the emerald, you may also be interested in testing whether it is naturally occurring, or a synthetic laboratory creation.



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Evaluating an Emerald
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Look for flaws through a magnifying lens or jeweler's loupe. Examine the gem under magnification, ideally through a 10x triple-lens jeweler's loupe. Hold it so light strikes it at an oblique angle, in one narrow beam if possible.[1] If you see tiny flaws or irregular patterns within the stone, it is likely a real gem — although not necessarily an emerald. If your gem is very clear, with almost none of these "inclusions," it may be a synthetic emerald (man-made but real), or not a gemstone at all.
Gas bubbles only appear in natural emeralds near other inclusions of different shapes. If you see a swarm of bubbles alone, the gem is probably glass — but it could be a synthetic emerald.[2]
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Check for a sparkling effect. Real emeralds produce little to no "fire," or colorful flashes that appear under light. If your gem produces a rainbow of flashes, it is not an emerald.[3]
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Examine the color. The mineral beryl is only called emerald if it is dark green or blue-green. Yellow-green beryl is called heliodor, and light green beryl is just called green beryl.[4] A yellow-green gem might also be olivine or green garnet.[5]
The line between emerald and green beryl is blurred — two jewelers could disagree over the classification of a gem.