Emeralds are an enchanting and captivating gemstone......
Emerald is the birthstone for May and with its rich, sumptuous green hues, the beautiful emerald is synonymous with Spring, vitality and new growth. The Romans also linked emeralds with Venus, Goddess of Love and they are said to bring about loyalty and everlasting love. The word “emerald” comes from smaragdos, which is ancient Greek for green gem and they come from the mineral 'Beryl' which when colored by trace amounts of chromium and/or vanadium, form an emerald. They are considered one of the 4 most precious gemstones, the other three being diamonds, rubies and sapphires and have been used in jewellery for centuries with their links to royalty deeply embedded. They almost always have inclusions, which are considered one of their natural characteristics and contribute to their uniqueness and character. Emeralds are sometimes filled with oils or waxes to fill any fractures and improve their clarity and some may be dyed to enhance their colour.
Where Are Emeralds Found?
Colombia has long been renowned as the source for some of the very finest emeralds and Columbian emeralds are seen as the standard to which others are compared. Emeralds vary in colour from rich, deep green tones, to lighter tones with a slightly bluish green colour and slightly yellowish green emeralds, all depending on where they are mined. Brazil, Zambia, Pakistan and Afghanistan are also sources of emeralds.
Caring for Emeralds
Emeralds are ranked 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so are durable for jewellery (diamonds rank at 10) and the safest way to clean them is to use a soft brush and warm, soapy water, avoiding harsh chemicals and extreme heat.
Emeralds are a truly beautiful precious gemstone, slightly mysterious and always captivating.