sobolevemeralds

emeralds from the Urals and Zambia

An emerald is a vivid coloured stone, and we believe vivid stones should be large. In our rings we set emeralds from 3 carats, and the largest specimens are 20–30 carats and more. The collection is made up of emeralds from the Urals and Zambia.

We cut the stones ourselves, bringing emerald rough to the perfect brilliance of precisely finished facets. Our cutting school was born in the Urals, home of the Ural emeralds, and its cutting standards were laid down back in the USSR.

glow and depth

An emerald owes its colour to chromium and vanadium, while iron mutes it. Ural emeralds are rich in chromium: in daylight they glow from within, in shades from mint and neon to deep grass green. Zambian stones hold more iron: they glow less, but their colour is deeper, cooler, with a touch of blue, and barely changes with the light — the stone looks the same by day and in the evening.

We don't think one is better than the other: they are two different characters of green, and the one to choose is the one that speaks to you.

questions

How does a Ural emerald differ from a Zambian one?

Chromium and vanadium give an emerald its colour, while iron mutes it. Ural stones are richer in chromium and glow from within in daylight. Zambian stones hold more iron: less glow, but a deeper, cooler colour that barely changes with the light.

Why do two diamonds of the same carat weight look different in size?

A carat is a unit of weight, not size. Part of the weight can sit in the depth of the stone, so it looks smaller from above. We choose stones that face up larger than the market average for their carat weight.

Can you choose a diamond by its GIA report alone?

A report describes colour, clarity and proportions honestly, but not the stone's play of light: windows, colour dead spots and uneven facets show only to the eye, and a video can hide them. That is why we view every stone in person before buying — and suggest you do the same.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

No. You decide to buy only after seeing the stone in person. This applies to stones of 5 carats and above that we bring in to order as well.

Which stones are in stock in Moscow?

We keep pieces with stones from 1 to 4 carats in stock, with a choice of colour and clarity, so you can compare and see what speaks to you. Stones of 5 to 7 carats are in transit, to order: they are rare and often sold before they arrive.

Can I just have the cheapest stone of a given carat weight?

No — we will decline if all you want is the cheapest: such a stone is almost always a poor one, and we would rather not be embarrassed by our client's stone later. Nor does the best stone have to be the most expensive: the price should match the market.

Why not buy cheaper while travelling abroad?

You can. But if the stone turns out not to be what you were sold, there is no one to go back to, and you will have to explain the piece at customs. Our pieces are imported officially and registered in the Russian state precious-metals system (GIIS DMDK), our showroom has a permanent address, and we are a second-generation jewellery business.

How do I check a GIA report?

The report number is on each piece's page and links to the GIA database (gia.edu). In the showroom we will show you the report itself and, together with you, look at the number inscribed on the stone's girdle under an electronic microscope.

The price is in US dollars — how do I pay?

Within Russia, payment is made only in roubles, converted at Sberbank's dollar selling rate on the day of purchase.

sobolevshowroom

try on every piece in Moscow

Paveletskaya Embankment, 8B — by appointment.

can't make it to the showroom?

Get in touch however suits you — on telegram or by email. Tell us which city you are in, what you would like to buy or have made, and by when. A specialist who looks after clients from cities across Russia and from other countries will contact you and help you get it done. To some cities our manager can come to you; to others your order will be delivered by a courier company. Delivery to some countries requires a visa on our side — but that can be arranged too.

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