GEMOLOGY The Case for Red Emerald A rare North American beryl with an identity crisis hich is easier to remember says consumers would accept the name and understand: bixbite or red emerald more readily. W red emerald? But using the name red emerald is This red member of the beryl family fraught with gemological controversy. has been called bixbite almost since Here's a look at both sides of the issue. Maynard Bixby discovered it in 1897. But the awkward name, meager produc­ Arguments Against Red Emerald tion and small gems have relegated the • Definition. In antiquity, smaragdos, material to a role as a rare gemological the Greek root word for emerald, curiosity. referred to green gems that mayor Now Gemstone Mining Inc., Cedar may not have been emeralds. The City, UT, the owner of the only known modern definition for emerald is sat­ bixbite deposit - the Ruby Violet claim urated bluish green, green or yel­ in Utah's Wah-,wah mountain range - lowish green beryl. Emerald is a plans to increase production and make synonym for green. more material available by fall. Settling • Respect for Bixby. Calling red beryl on a salable trade name now is significant for retailers who plan to market the gemstone. The History Red beryl has many mar­ ketable attributes. It pos­ sesses the same physical and chemical characteristics as emerald, except it's colored by microscopic traces of manganese (emerald is col­ ored by chromium and!or vanadium). It's natural, the only known source is in the U.S. and producers say a lot of material lies waiting for mechanized production. Importers and Manufacturers of Cultured Pearls, But producers say calling Jade, Lapis and Fine Jewelry the material by its species name - red beryl - won't 760 Market St., #566 Which name can San Francisco, CA 94102 resonate with consumers. you sell more effectively: Tel (415) 421-2113 Fax (415) 421-2753 "The purpose of a name is red emerald or bixbite? 1-800-247-8222 communication," says Kelly Gems are courtesy ofThe Harris Group, Delta, UT. East Coast Office: Hyslop, CEO of Gemstone 1051 Bloomfield Ave, Suite #2 Mining Inc. The company Clifton, NJ 07012 Tel (973) 778-0664 66 professional jeweler • Jllne 1999 Please Visit Us At All Major Trade Shows_ GEMOLOGY by something other than bixbite quently and in smaller sizes than the using a descriptive prefix to denote the would dishonor its discoverer. other beryls. "This makes red and various colors of sapphire," says Boehm. • What about pink, yellow and blue green more expensive, further sup­ And for people who object on the beryl? If red beryl benefits from the porting use of the term red emerald basis that smaragdos means green, emerald association, so shouldn't mor­ as a clear way to inform consumers of Boehm points to sapphire: "Sapphire is ganite, goshenite and aquamarine? how value and pricing are associ­ historically been associated with blue, ated'" says Edward Boehm ofJOEB from the Greek sapphiros, meaning Arguments for Red Emerald Enterprises, Solana Beach, CA. blue." But the trade readily uses the • Gemological similarities. Emerald • If we accept pink, purple and yellow word sapphire with other colors. and red beryl are type III gems in the sapphire, why not red emerald? Ray Zajicek of Equatorian Imports, clarity classification system of the • Bixbite could be confused with Dallas, TX, says the name red emerald Gemological Institute of America. bixbyite, a black, opaque mineral makes sense for other reasons also. "This They have similar amounts and types also discovered by Maynard Bixby. is not like aquamarine or heliodor, of inclusions. Other beryls are type I, which respond to enhancements and the being relatively free of inclusions. Policy vs. Practice cutting wheel in a different way than Emerald and red beryl don't respond Proponents say arguments against the emerald does," he says. "I have sawed to heat treatment; all other beryls do. term red emerald are becoming moot. and preformed it. I have cut, polished • The name makes it easier to commu­ "There's a logical association between and immersed it in a colorless medium. nicate rarity and value. Red and green and red emerald that can be sup­ This is an emerald, except it's red." green beryl occur much less fre- ported by the trade-accepted practice of - ~r Robert Weldon, C. C. Simply xquzszte• • ... See us at these jewelry shows: - Columbus Show - Professional Primetime «lJY> 550 S. Hill St., Suite 1614, Los Angeles, CA 90013 AZ Fax: (213) 627-1363 800-664-2727 .