The facts
What beryl actually is
Mineralogically, beryl is beryl — Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈, crystallising in the hexagonal system.
The colour is caused by cr³⁺/V³⁺ green, Fe²⁺ blue, Fe³⁺ yellow, Mn³⁺ pink, Mn²⁺ red. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.562–1.602, and the specific gravity sits near 2.66–2.90; cleavage is imperfect basal.
Where beryl comes from
The recognised sources are Minas Gerais, Brazil, Muzo, Boyacá, Colombia, Erongo, Namibia and Ampasibitika, Madagascar.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How beryl is treated
Heating aquamarine to remove yellow and irradiating to make Maxixe-type blue (which fades) are both routine. Emerald is almost always fissure-filled with oil, resin or polymer. Low-iron beryl is also diffusion-coloured cobalt blue in some recent goods.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What beryl is confused with
The usual confusions are Apatite, Topaz, Synthetic beryl and Glass.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.562–1.602 and specific gravity 2.66–2.90 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What beryl is used for
Beryl is bought by jewellery, mineral collecting and technical and precision components — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Beryl is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, with imperfect basal cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What beryl costs
Indicative pricing for beryl is Common beryl 5–50 USD/ct; fine emerald above 20,000 USD/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is beryl treated, and how?
Heating aquamarine to remove yellow and irradiating to make Maxixe-type blue (which fades) are both routine. Emerald is almost always fissure-filled with oil, resin or polymer. Low-iron beryl is also diffusion-coloured cobalt blue in some recent goods.
Where does beryl come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Muzo, Boyacá, Colombia, Erongo, Namibia and Ampasibitika, Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is beryl hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but imperfect basal cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does beryl cost?
Indicatively Common beryl 5–50 USD/ct; fine emerald above 20,000 USD/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is beryl confused with?
Most often Apatite, Topaz, Synthetic beryl and Glass. A refractive index of 1.562–1.602 and a specific gravity near 2.66–2.90 separate it quickly.
What is beryl used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and technical and precision components. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for beryl?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about beryl