Fifty-Carat Unenhanced Emerald Goes on Tour

Not many retailers, and even fewer consumers, have ever seen an unenhanced 1-ct. gemmy emerald, let alone a 50-carater, but they'd probably like to. At least that's what Arthur Groom and a number of select jewelers are banking on. Groom, New Jersey emerald expert, is sending the impressive Colombian emerald to a dozen North American retailers in an effort to reestablish jeweler and consumer confidence in the green gem.

"It's magnificent, even historic," says Groom, retailer, wholesaler, entrepreneur, and key figure in the development of ExCel emerald enhancement. "After a year of planning, we cut this 50-carat gem from a 458-carat Chivor rough crystal with exceptionally vivid color and brilliance—and no need of enhancement. There are very few emeralds of this size and caliber in the world."

Emeralds from Chivor are known for their size, clarity, and strong blue color component, much more so than those from Muzo, the most recognized Colombian emerald mine.

The exhibition of the big green is tied to in-store events, featuring loose and jewelry-set Eternity Natural Emerald, Groom's wholesale division for his emerald line. "Prior to these selling days, we send in a team of experts to train the staff in what we call 'best practices' emerald selling and then assist them on sale days," Groom says.

Groom is also sponsoring a naming contest for the big emerald. And at the end of the tour, the emerald is scheduled to go on display at the Smithsonian Institution.