MAY BIRTHSTONE – EMERALD

Introduction

Emerald, the May birthstone, is a symbol of rebirth that is known to grant the wearer youth, good fortune, and foresight. It has also long been associated with fertility and love.

The best emeralds have a rich green colour, sometimes touched with a hint of blue, of intriguing translucence, depth and clarity.

History

The name “Emerald” is derived from the Latin word “smaragdus” which means “green” in Greek. In ancient Greece and Rome, Emerald was said to be goddess Venus’ gemstone. 

Emerald has been prized for its beauty since antiquity—emerald mines existed in Egypt as early as 300 BC. The people from ancient Greece and Rome donned these gorgeous green gems as jewellery.

In the 1500s the Spanish invaded South America where the Incas had prized emeralds for hundreds of years, and that is the time when the Europeans got introduced to the beauty of this gem.

Emeralds were cherished by the Mogul emperors of India during the same period who believed that these gems offered them the protection of gods.

The gemstone was also a favourite of the famous historical figure, Cleopatra who even claimed the ownership of all the emerald mines in Egypt during her reign. Many historical antiques are made of emeralds like the crown of Andes which is believed to consist of 450 emeralds weighing about 10 ounces or 1523 carats.

Characteristics

This precious stone belongs to the beryl family of minerals that include aquamarine, heliodor, and morganite. Beryl in a chemical jargon is a six-sided symmetrical crystal that contains beryllium, aluminium, silicon, and oxygen.

The colour of the stone is green which varies according to its quality. Good quality emeralds are deep green in colour along with a bluish tinge, while emeralds of a slighter quality are light green in colour and have a yellowish tinge. If heated intensely, the stone tends to lose its colour.

Appreciated for its lively and gorgeous look, emerald is one of the four classic precious gemstones and is often captured in statement-making jewellery styles!

How Should You Wear It

It is ideal to wear emeralds on the little or middle finger ornamented with gold. The stone should touch the skin of your finger.

While wearing the Emerald Gemstone, it is advised not to wear Natural Pearl and Ruby along with it.

The stone being of fragile nature is prone to breakage. So, while purchasing emeralds one should ensure that they are bezel-set to protect them from accidental breakage. Emerald jewellery can be easily scratched, so one should store it separately from the gemstones.

Emeralds need re-oiling after some years and a professional jeweller is an ideal person to consult regarding the same.

Stay tuned for our next blog on birthstones!

Image Courtesy: The 18.04-carat Rockefeller Emerald was bought at a Christie’s auction by Harry Winston