how expensive are emeralds

Emerald prices vary widely depending on quality factors like color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Prices can start as low as about $10 per carat for low- quality stones and go up to over $100,000 per carat for top-grade, rare emeralds. Most commercial emeralds range from $500 to $3,000 per carat, with very high-quality stones usually costing between $10,000 and $30,000 per carat. The cost is influenced most strongly by the richness and clarity of their green color, with Colombian emeralds generally being the most valued due to their vivid blue-green hue. Factors such as inclusions are common in emeralds but fewer inclusions can increase the price significantly. Large sizes and excellent cuts also raise the price substantially, and artificial or lab-grown emeralds are usually much less expensive than natural ones.