Did you notice the emerald ring in Kajol’s photo? Sitting pretty against her bright red-and-yellow sari, the rich green stone is hard to miss — and it may just be another sign that emeralds are having a moment.

Unlike the classic diamond solitaire, emerald rings bring a little more colour and personality to the finger. In a conversation with indianexpress.com, Asavari Pednekar, managing director, JGP Jewellers, reveals that emerald rings are increasingly finding favour among brides and younger jewellery buyers looking for something a little different.

“Emerald rings are definitely in trend in India right now, but I’d describe them as a rising luxury trend,” she says. The shift, she adds, is from the traditional diamond-only centre stone towards coloured gems such as emeralds, sapphires and rubies.

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So, what makes a good emerald?

 

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” When buying an emerald ring, one should prioritise colour above everything else,” Pednekar suggests.

” When buying an emerald ring, one should prioritise colour above everything else,” Pednekar suggests.


She recommends looking for a vivid, well-saturated green with good tone — that’s what gives the stone its character. And don’t be put off if you spot tiny inclusions. Unlike diamonds, natural emeralds are expected to have them. In fact, a completely flawless emerald may be more unusual than you think.

What you do want to watch out for are major fractures, particularly those reaching the surface. Emeralds are relatively delicate, so the cut should enhance the stone’s colour and brilliance while also protecting it.

As for Kajol’s ring, Pednekar likes the fact that it keeps things simple. The elongated emerald gets to do all the talking, without an elaborate setting competing for attention. “The emerald is allowed to be the hero,” she says.

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“The clean, elongated shape gives it a contemporary character, while the rich green colour adds an instant sense of luxury. It also reflects an interesting shift in Indian jewellery styling: emeralds are increasingly being worn as individual statement pieces that can transition from traditional Indian dressing to more contemporary looks.”


And perhaps that’s the appeal. An emerald doesn’t need much fuss to make a statement — just a beautiful green stone, a simple setting and, apparently, the right sari — just like Kajol!