May Birthstone – Emerald

Zodiac

Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. It is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. It benefits the wearer by enabling foresight and good fortune.

Navgrah

Hindus associated emeralds with the planet Mercury. Emerald is one of the stones embedded in navgrah jewellery.

Meaning of Emerald

Emerald’s English name is borrowed from Old French esmeraude, which itself stems from smaragdos, the Ancient Greek word for this gem. The word emerald is derived from the Greek word “smaragdus” which means green in Greek.

History of the Emerald

The May birthstone, emerald, was a favourite of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. The gem was her royal jewel and adorned her palace. Cleopatra also laid claim to all the emerald mines in Egypt. The Egyptians as a whole were enamoured with the gem, using it both in jewellery and in burials, burying the stones with monarchs as a sign of protection.

Emerald in Folklore

For centuries, emeralds were thought to possess healing powers and reduce stress. Ancient civilizations considered it a symbol of fertility and immortality. According to legend, emeralds were one of four stones given by God to the Israelite King Solomon.

Colour

The emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, which forms with six sides. Emeralds can range in colour from light green with blue or yellow tones to deep, rich green. The finest emeralds have a deep green colour, sometimes touched with a hint of blue and offering translucence, depth, and clarity.

Hardness

Emerald has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.

Formation

It is estimated that the oldest gems are close to 3 billion years old.

Zones

In the 16th century, deposits found in Colombia expanded the locations for mining the gem to South America. It continues to be a major source of emeralds, along with mines in Brazil and Africa, most notably Zambia. Emeralds are also found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, while North Carolina is home to the largest deposits of stone in the United States.

Healing & Spiritual

Over the years, emeralds have been associated with inspiration and patience, rebirth and renewal. It has also been thought to make those who wear it more intelligent, quick-witted, and passionate speakers.

Emeralds symbolize loyalty, new beginnings, peace, and security. The gem is also believed to relieve stress.

Physical Properties

It was believed to help relieve issues with the muscles, spine, and chest area. The emerald was also once thought to cure diseases such as cholera and malaria. It has long been associated with the eyes, from helping to reduce eye strain to opening a window to the future for those who placed it under their tongue.

Chakra Healing

Emerald corresponds to the heart chakra It has a healing effect on the emotions as well as the physical heart. It ensures physical, emotional and mental equilibrium, bringing harmony to all areas of one’s life.

Anniversary

The emerald is the gem given to celebrate the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Popular Culture

In L. Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to find the wizard.

In the 1980s, Seattle, Washington, became nicknamed “The Emerald City.”

An emerald pendant owned by Elizabeth Taylor sold for more than $6 million in 2011.

Pliny the Elder once said that “nothing greens greener” than an emerald.

Famous Emeralds of the World

The Chalk Emerald – The Chalk Emerald is an extraordinarily beautiful 37.82-carat emerald. The Chalk Emerald was once owned by a Maharani of Baroda, India.  The Chalk Emerald was donated to the Smithsonian in 1972 by its most recent owners, Mr and Mrs O. Roy Chalk.

The Diadem of the Duchess of Angouleme Marie Therese of France – Features a beautiful array of emeralds, including a staggeringly large emerald at its centre. This tiara was a gift that Louis Antoine gave to his wife, the Duchess of Angouleme. This impeccably crafted tiara is one of the very few intact pieces of jewellery that remains from the French Bourbon Restoration Era. This tiara remained the property of the French crown for many years but is now owned by the Louvre, where it is currently available for public view.

The Guinness Emerald Crystal

The Guinness Emerald Crystal is one of the largest gemstone-quality crystals ever discovered. Weighing in at 1,759 carats, this uncut emerald was found in the Cosquez mines of Columbia.

The Seringapatam Jewels – The Seringapatam Jewels is a collection of spectacular emerald jewellery. This collection features a necklace, a brooch, a bracelet, and a pair of drop earrings, all of which are crafted from emeralds, diamonds, platinum, and gold. The emeralds within this jewellery were given to a British Major-General, George Harris, after his historic victory at the Battle of Seringapatam in India in 1799. The exact location of all the Seringapatam Jewels is currently unknown.

IIG offers programs in Gemology like Masters in Gemology, Gemology Graduate, The Big 5, The Big 3 and Navratnam where the birthstone emerald will be taught in the course content.

Visit the fastest-growing premier Education Institute of the Gems and Jewellery Industry at our pan-India locations including Mumbai & Surat.

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Author: – Charmi Soni Shroff
Being a part of the Gems & Jewellery industry for the last 15 years I garnered insights into
gems, diamonds and jewellery. I have authored a handbook on casting techniques and
various blogs on various methods of healing and meditation with gemstones. Presently
working with IIG Mumbai as a writer, author, external spokesperson and PR representative.