





Emerald, the May birthstone, is also the traditional 20th and 35th anniversary gift. It corresponds with Taurus sign of the Zodiac, and Ireland is commonly known as "The Emerald Isle".
The word emerald comes from the Greek smaragdos
which means "green gems". That word may have come from the Hebrew izmargot
, or possibly the Sanskrit marakata,
meaning "the green of growing things". This brings to mind all of the different shades of spring plant life.
Historical
Emeralds have been bought and sold for the last 6000 years, going back to the Babylonian markets around 4000 BCE. They have always been associated with royalty and wealth. The Incan emperors and Egyptian pharaohs wore them. Cleopatra was reknowned for wearing emerald-encrusted robes and gave loose emeralds as gifts to the men who visited as dignitaries. The Crown of the Andes from colonial South America has a 24-carat emerald that was supposedly taken from the last Incan emperor, Atahualpa by Pizarro. The sunken 17th century Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha
had many gold and emerald treasures on board.
Sometime between 3000 BCE and 1000 BCE, emeralds were found in Upper Egypt near the Red Sea. This later became known as Cleopatra's Mine. Emerald has been mined throughout Africa, notably Zambia and the Ndola Rural Restricted Area. Pakistan and Afghanistan are important producers, along with Minas Gerais in Brazil. For over 500 years, Columbia has produced the finest emeralds that have been used as the standard of measure. The three main mining areas in Columbia each produce a different color emerald: Muzo - pure dark green, Chivor - lighter bluish-green, Coscuez - yellowish-green.
Metaphysical
In Pliny the Elder's Natural History
, he writes that "nothing greens greener" than emerald. He also credits the stone with therapeutic properties to help gem cutters when they are tired. Science has proven that the color green relieves stress and eye strain, so he was right! Aristotle wrote that wearing emeralds would increase the owner's importance in business transactions, give victory in trials, and prevent epilepsy.
Throughout history, there have been many magical and spiritual associations with emerald. Put it under your tongue to have visions of the future. Wearing it will make you an eloquent speaker. It will expose the false promises of your lover. Emerald can make the wearer more intelligent and quick-witted. It can even cure diseases like cholera or malaria.
Traditionally, emerald represents loyalty, faithfulness, and friendship. It is a symbol of love, romance, and rebirth. It assists with memory, clairvoyance, and faith. Emerald can promote creativity, and brings prosperity in business endeavors.
People in the Middle Ages believed it would keep a woman chaste and provided an antidote to spells and enchantments. The Irish said emerald brings good luck and maybe even a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Romans thought that pale green emeralds were "unripe" and that darker green stones had more mature powers.
Geological
Emerald is part of the beryl group of minerals, which also includes aquamarine. The different shades of green are caused by varying amounts of chromium oxide and vanadium in the beryl crystal.
It has a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, but is brittle due to the many inclusions and fissures found in natural emeralds. These inclusions are not considered flaws, and help distinguish natural stones from those created in a lab.
It is common to coat natural emeralds with a clear oil, wax, or resin to reduce the appearance of surface fissures. It is important to be careful cleaning your emerald jewelry to avoid damaging the stone. At home, just lightly brush with warm soapy water and rinse. Using an abrasive or an ultrasonic cleaner can lead to the coating or filler coming out, and can even break the stone. When in doubt, always bring it to your friendly neighborhood jeweler (that's us!) for care.