GEM & JEWELRY ARTICLE

Emerald, the Birthstone for May.

Emerald, the May birthstone. Its iconic green color is closely linked to spring and renewal making it a perfect stone for the month of May! An ancient and popular gemstone.

Nicky Thomas

Gemstone & Jewelry
Style & Trends Editor


  • A truly ancient gemstone...

    Believed to have been mined since 330 BC by the Egyptians and thought to be Cleopatra’s favorite gem.  This beautiful green gemstone has been revered by many cultures over the eons.  The ancient Romans believed Emerald represented Venus, the Goddess of beauty and love. Hence why the color green has been the color of beauty and constant, unconditional love for centuries. In the Middle Ages they were believed to hold the power to forecast the future and the early Christians saw them as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.

    WHAT IS EMERALD?

    The name ‘Emerald’ comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the old French 'esmeralde', which means 'Green Gemstone'. It is part of the Beryl family just like Aquamarine and Morganite.  It gets its wonderful green/blue color from the minerals chromium and vanadium and forms in gorgeous hexagonal 'pencils' within the host rock.Emerald is naturally very included and often has surface fissures - ‘Jardin’ as in the French for garden.  


  • Natural Inclusions In Emerald.jpg

    Much of the Emerald seen in the market today is treated to hide these cracks by glass filling or oiling. To find flawless, untreated pieces is extremely rare.  
    Emerald is a hard gemstone, reading 7.5-8 on the Mohs Scale but it is brittle due to these cracks and inclusions. T
    his doesn't however stop it from being used in all forms of jewelry. As these beautiful pieces created by various jewelers demonstrate.
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    Emerald And Diamond Jewelry.jpg

  • The most famous Emeralds are mined in Columbia. Zambia also produces some super Emerald and an exciting
    new discovery in Ethiopia, is producing some very fine pieces and one to keep an eye on!

  • EMERALD – MEANING, HEALING AND ENERGIZING

    ° A stone of inspiration and infinite patience, it embodies unity, compassion and unconditional love.

    ° Believed to give the wearer good fortune, foresight, health and youth. To promote friendship, faithfulness and wisdom.

    ° Traditionally, Emerald has also been known to have magical properties that can keep illness at bay.  

    ° Emerald helps one to embrace and maintain the rhythmic breathing conducive to entering and attaining depth in the meditative state.

    ° Emerald is the purest crystal of the Green Ray, it is known as a “growth crystal” - a powerful conduit of the earth’s Life Force of birth, development and creation, and nature’s constant renewal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nicky Thomas

Educated at the University of Exeter and a key part of our team here at The Rare Gemstone Company, Nicky has been fascinated by gemstones and jewelry since childhood. She explores all areas of the industry in her blog and revels in the proximity to gems and jewels that working at the source of some of the world’s most beautiful and rarest gemstones provides her.

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