Van Cleef & Arpels experts choose emeralds for their beauty and the emotions they arouse. They start by appraising the gems’ color, singling out stones that exhibit a deep and consistent green hue. They are also attentive to purity, assessing the subtlety and harmony of the inclusions characteristic to emeralds, known as jardins. The third selection criterion is the essence, which indicates the quality of crystallization and determines the emerald’s brilliance. This in-depth observation makes it possible to bring to light exceptional stones endowed with a spiritual quality. Following a traditional lapidary technique, emeralds are “oiled” using a natural and colorless oil to preserve their original distinctive color.