Wait… why didn’t my emerald glow red under the Chelsea filter? Let’s talk about the Chelsea filter, a tool often used to test emeralds. What it actually detects is chromium, the element that gives many emeralds their rich green color. When an emerald is chromium-rich, it might glow pink or red under this filter. But here’s the twist… not all natural emeralds glow red. Some, even from Colombia, can appear yellow-green or do nothing at all. Why? Because they may contain lower chromium or a mix of chromium and vanadium, which is totally natural. Now here’s the part most people don’t know: synthetic emeralds often DO glow bright red under the Chelsea filter. That’s because they’re lab-grown with high chromium content. In fact, their glow can be even stronger than a natural emerald. So, while the Chelsea filter can hint at chromium content, it cannot confirm authenticity or origin. That’s why labs like GIA use advanced tools like spectroscopy and inclusion analysis to accurately determine whether an emerald is natural, synthetic, or treated. If your emerald didn’t glow red… don’t panic. It might still be the real deal 💚 #emerald #colombianemerald #gia #gemtesting #realemerald #gemology #fyp 📧 jrcolombianemeralds@gmail.com ☎️ 561-746-8186 www.jrcolombianemeralds.com - @jrcolombianemeralds