Diamonds and green emeralds are a classic combination. They feature in many jewelry pieces, both classic and modern. In fact, emerald was always a good “companion” for diamonds in jewelry, since diamonds bring out the special color in the emerald. Combining the two also raises the value of the piece, since emerald is one of the more expensive gemstones in nature.
Emerald is also the birthstone for May. Chosen to match springtime in Europe, the green emerald symbolizes vibrancy, rebirth and growth. The word Emerald originates in Ancient Greek, and literally means “green gem”.
Emeralds were discovered 4,000 years ago. The first emerald mine was established in the Red Sea, and the ancient Egyptians were the earliest miners of the gemstone, as well as native Americans on the other side of the world. Today, the principal emerald mines are located in South America, mainly Brazil and Colombia, and in Africa and the US.
Emerald Use in the Israeli Gem Industry
Some of the best diamantaires and jewelry designers in Israel are deeply familiar with the traits of emeralds, using the stone in their designs alongside diamonds.
Leibish and Co., for example, routinely combines emeralds in its pieces. Recently, the company created an impressive necklace of green emeralds and yellow diamonds: “We used a total of 16.48-carats of yellow diamonds, combined with 48.16-carats of emeralds in different cuts”, explains Levi Hahn, manager of jewelry production at Leibish. Another ring by the jeweler uses yellow and green, “since the yellow brings out the green. We set the stones in platinum and yellow gold, and if you look at the ring from above, you can’t see the yellow diamonds at all, which makes it a unique and significant piece of jewelry”.
Ilya Anbinder, from Anbinder Jewelry, also customarily sets emeralds alongside diamonds, mostly in teardrop cuts, oval or rectangular. The emeralds are usually set as center stones, surrounded by rows of diamonds. “The color of the emerald is brought by the diamonds surrounding it”, Anbinder explains, “Since green is made of partly yellow, yellow stones compliment the green in the emerald”.
Jewelry designer Roni Tochner provides other shining examples of combining emeralds with diamonds: Her Mary Anne Ring, for instance, has an emerald in its center, surrounded by smaller emeralds. The ring is made of white/yellow gold in 14/18 karat and set with a 6.5-carat emerald doublet, as well as 4-carats of white diamonds and 2.99 carats of black diamonds. “It’s a classic ring, in green and black colors, but it succeeds in being modern”, Tochner says. The designer excels in combining precious gems, diamonds and precious metals using classic and modern methods.
The three designers we spoke too, as well as many others, bring to life the unique combination of emeralds and diamonds in their work – whether they’re designing rings, earrings, chokers or necklaces. So remember, the next time you hear that somebody is “green with jealousy” – maybe it’s because they still haven’t had the chance to own an emerald and diamond jewelry piece.
By: Iris Hortman
Click here for more images on our HP Gallery
