On the downside, television news stories about non-permanent
emerald treatments and synthetic emeralds harmed the market for
that gem. In the final quarter of 1996, 24 percent of all colored stone
jewelry sold in the US contained emeralds. One year later, during the
same quarter, the percentage had dropped to 7 percent. Some jewelers
temporarily backed away from emeralds because of the controversy
over treatment disclosure and durability, but the emerald market eventually
recovered.