As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth.
Rare and beautiful, emerald's stunning green colour has brought it an honoured status amongst cultures worldwide. The ancients Romans considered these gemstones sacred symbols of fertility and immortality, whilst the Egyptians also believed that this precious gemstone could cure eyestrain and also help wearers see into the future.
Whatever its supposed mystical properties, the emerald has long been regarded as a jewel of prestige, prized by high society and royalty, no less than Cleopatra. Reportedly, she adorned herself and her palace with emeralds, and also gave them as gifts to foreign dignitaries. Fast forward to modern day, and the emerald is still revered by the rich and famous, often worn as statement pieces for big events.
A variety of the beryl gemstone family, emeralds get their rich green colour from traces of chromium and vanadium, and can range in colour from bluish green to yellowish green. In the middle of the scale, there are pure green emeralds, which are the most prized for their rich saturation.
Emeralds are mined throughout the world, however the majority are sourced from just three countries - Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia, with Colombia producing the finest, most sought after and expensive emeralds.
Generally speaking, all natural emeralds are included to varying degrees. These inclusions are caused by small bits of gasses, other minerals and crystals, and liquids that the emeralds take on during the crystallization process and occur in 99% of emeralds. It is very uncommon to find emeralds free of inclusions, and some of them, especially the aesthetic ones, are highly valued by collectors.
Did you know?
In addition to being the May birthstone and the zodiac sign of Cancer and Taurus, emerald is traditionally given for the 20th and 55th wedding anniversaries
From time immemorial, emeralds have been excavated, worshipped and worn by royalty including Cleopatra
Emerald, derived from the word “smaragdus,” means, quite literally, “green” in Greek.
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