Emerald – Birthstone of May

Leafy green to dark green gem material colored by traces of Chromium, and sometimes along with Vanadium, is known as Emerald. It falls under the Beryl family and has a habit to grow as hexagonal columnar pipes and is sometimes found as twinned crystals.

Emerald as the birthstone for May, is a symbol of rebirth. It is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth.

Emerald word is derived from the word `Smaragdus’, meaning “green” in Greek. It is also derived from the Spanish word “Esmeralda’’ which means Emerald.

Emerald has been synonymous with the color green since ancient times. A fine emerald is a truly breathtaking sight, and hence it deserves its placement among the traditional “Big Five” gems along with Pearl, Diamond, Ruby, and Sapphire.

Emerald is a birthstone for the Zodiac Cancer, representing planet Mercury as per Indian astrology.

The physicoptics are as follows:

Color: Deep to medium green, blueish green.
Crystallography: Hexagonal
Hardness: 7.5-8
Major Sources: Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Russia, and others.
Specific Gravity: 2.67-2.78
Unusual Variety: Trapiche Emerald from Colombia.

Most emeralds are kept in oil, preferably non-dyed oil. This oil enters multiple fissures inside emerald as emerald is a softer beryl variety, which, on exposure to heat, loose oil and fissures become visible, spoiling the beauty of the emerald pieces.

Nowadays, many stones with different types of treatments which increase the transparency and hence the beauty of emerald pieces. This type of emerald needs a declaration of treatment done to the buyer. These treatments are: Dyeing, surface coating, resin filling, waxing, plastic impregnation, and non- dyed/ non colored oil. Oiling is a universally accepted treatment for emeralds. Still, some European countries ask for a specific oil certification used as oiling for emerald.

All green looking similar to Emerald act as its Simulants. The most used cheaper version of simulant is Clear quartz-topped Triplets, which are widely used in the Indian local market in high-end gold jewellery.

Emerald is traded as cut & polished stones, strings, carvings, and cabochons. Victorian jewellery has cabochons while modern jewellery uses faceted stones.