For starters, we will explain the basic difference between emeralds and emerald-cut diamonds – the difference between these stones remains unclear mostly among people.

The only difference between an emerald and an emerald cut diamond is explained below.

Emerald	Emerald-Cut Diamond
It is a gemstone.	This is a diamond having a cut of emerald shape (rectangular); hence the name emerald cut diamond.

Distinguishing The Colors of Emerald and Diamond

Emerald exists in green or bluish-green shades. The shade of green comes from vanadium and chromium chemicals that make up the stone’s composition.

On the other hand, Diamonds occur in a variety of colors like transparent, yellow, red, orange, pink, gray, and even green! The green diamonds are mainly confused with emeralds.

Some diamonds have the cut of emerald shape. Green diamonds that have an emerald cut are frequently confused for emeralds, and rightly so because the color and cut are the same as that of an emerald.

The value of diamonds and emeralds both depends on their colors. The diamonds and emeralds come in various shades, but some of the shades are deeply valued by the masses. People go by the saying ‘the clearer the diamond, the better it is.

Diamonds that are clear and sparkly are the most popular, while emeralds that are shiny and green are loved the most.

Distinguishing The Compositions of Emerald and Diamond

Emerald comprises beryl (Beryllium Aluminum Silicate), while Diamonds are comprised of carbon.

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is used to measure the hardness of minerals on a scale of 1-10. The diamond is rated a ten on 10 for hardness, and an emerald is given a 7.5 out of 10.

Emeralds are less hard than diamonds, but that does not mean they are less durable or fragile. Emerald can last up to many decades, free from fissures.

Emeralds are hard but liable to break easily. This is why designers prefer leaving emerald in a rectangular shape and avoid making a lot of cuts on it.

The rectangular shape of an emerald is now so popular that it is called the ’emerald shape.’

Natural emeralds are extremely rare. Gemstone designers refrain from making a lot of cuts on its emeralds, as they can break and then become literally useless. Nobody would want to break a rare gemstone while giving a shape to it!

Distinguishing The Inclusions of Emerald and Diamond

What are inclusions with respect to gemstones? Inclusions are basically the imperfections and marks on the gemstones. Inclusions on stones mainly occur because of poor cutting techniques. When the designer isn’t skilled enough to make proper cuts on the gemstone, he is likely to leave a lot of dark shades and chippings on it.

These inclusions incredibly impact the value of a diamond. At the same time, because of its intense, dark green color, an emerald can easily get away with some imperfections like cloudiness, chippings, and dark hues.

Diamonds are valued based on their clarity. The clearer, the better! The last thing you want in a diamond is imperfections. Diamonds are supposed to be transparent and clear. Diamond designers ensure that the diamonds they are designing are transparent and clean for the naked eye.

Some inclusions are common in diamonds and emeralds, and some people actually prefer emeralds because of their imperfections! Some believe that these inclusions are the uniqueness of emeralds and thus prefer buying imperfect emeralds. Specific inclusions like a curve defect provide uniqueness to an emerald.

Ironically, imperfections reduce a diamond’s value but elevate an emerald’s value.

Distinguishing the Prices of Emerald and Diamond

Diamonds are believed to be more expensive than emeralds. But this isn’t always true. The pricing depends on the grading and quality of the stone. An emerald can cost more than a diamond in some cases.

The GIA gradings of gemstones go from D – Z. Stones graded with a ‘D’ are colorless, while stones with a ‘Z’ grade have a yellow tint. In the case where a diamond has a low grade like SI2 for clarity and M grade for color, then it might cost less than an emerald.

Emeralds are more brittle as compared to diamonds, but their pricing is somewhat similar to that of diamonds, and that is because emeralds are rare to be found. Emeralds are twenty times rarer than diamonds and are mined in very few places in the world. They are currently mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia. Columbia is famous for producing the finest quality emeralds. The rarity of emeralds tends to upgrade its price. If you draw the overall comparison, diamonds cost higher than diamonds because of their high demand throughout the world. Both of them have their own uniqueness, and you can’t really choose one among both because both have their own qualities.

Comparing Origins, Clarity, Sparkle, Enhancements, Meaning, and Symbolism of Emerald and Diamonds

Feature	Emerald	Diamond
Sparkle	Emeralds don’t reflect light as much as diamonds do. They appear luminous and create flashes of tones of green when light falls on them.	On the other hand, Diamonds are famous because of their distinctive sparkle. They refract light and that forms a rainbow of hues.
Origin	The rarest gemstone of all time, emerald, is mostly found in South America and Colombia. They are found naturally and are also created in labs.	Diamonds were mined in India about 2400 years ago for the first time. Those were naturally occurring diamonds; however, now diamonds are created in labs too.
Clarity	Most emeralds aren’t clear and have inclusions on their body. They have gas bubbles and minerals trapped inside them while the gemstone is being formed. But these imperfections provide uniqueness and identity to an emerald.  Some emeralds can be clear, but most of them are cloudy.	The Gemological Institute Of America (GIA) grades diamonds according to their clarity. Diamonds belonging to the SI or VS categories have very less imperfections that can be seen under a magnification of 10!
Enhancements	There are enhancement options available that enhance the clarity of an emerald. Some natural options such as oils and resins are used to enhance the intense green color and provide resistance to chipping.	Diamonds go through certain HPHT treatments to enhance their looks. These treatments enhance and intensify the diamond’s look and make it clearer. HPHT treatments are also used to give a new color to the diamond.
Symbolism	Emeralds symbolize romanticism. Emeralds are known to help people in seeing their future. Many people trust this intuition and wear it to visualize their futures.	Diamonds depict faithfulness, loyalty, and love; this is the reason they are used in engagement rings. Since they are known to be the hardest substance in the world, diamonds are a symbol of power.

FAQs on Diamond and Emeralds

Is emerald better than a diamond?

Ans. There are many factors to consider before stating which gemstone is better than the other. For a diamond, you must evaluate it on the basis of 4C’s approach. It would be best to look at the inclusions and hardness of the emerald and diamond and then conclude which one is more valuable. The value also depends on the color. It depends on what sort of color you are looking for.

Can I wear emerald and diamond together?

Ans. Wearing the two gemstones together is known to be beneficial for one’s health. It can improve your mental health, maintain physical freshness, and brighten up the wearer’s skin.

What are the benefits of emerald stone?

Ans. It is known to improve a person’s arithmetic skills and cognitive skills. Emerald is known to be the planet Mercury’s representation and is therefore famous for increasing the wearer’s intellect.

Who should not wear emerald?

Ans. It is believed that people of the Aries sun sign should avoid wearing an emerald stone.