| Emerald | |
|---|---|
[[ |250px]] | |
| Pronounce | Emm-er-uhld |
| Rare Metal | Mineral |
| Type | Aluminum Silicate |
| Cleave | |
| Hard | 7.5-8 |
| Streak | White |
| Lust | |
| Specific Gravity | {{{specify}}} |
| Chemical Compounds | Al2Be2(Si6O18) |
| Essential mineral(s) | {{{essential}}} |
| Accessory mineral(s) | {{{accessory}}} |
An Emerald is a colored green that is used in jewelry. Emeralds are usually found a transparent green to aqua color and are the of May. Emeralds are also Beryl Minerals. Emerald is commonly seen as a hexagonal crystal found in a host rock, where the emerald forms. The mineral itself is a Beryllium Aluminum Silicate mineral.
Emerald Meaning[]
Emeralds have a vibrant green color that creates beautifully focal jewelry. Their gorgeous hue has beautified many pieces of value throughout the ages. In fact, emeralds of the optimal shade and transparency can be even more valuable than a diamond.
Spiritual Meaning[]
Through time, the emerald has been known as a symbol of truth and love. In ancient Greece and Rome, emerald was said to be the gemstone of the goddess Venus, purveyor of love and hope. On the other side of the world, emeralds were revered by the Incas and believed by the Egyptians to be a source of eternal life. Emeralds were considered to be a gift from Thoth, the ancient god of wisdom. The emerald is also known as a stone of intuition, associated with sight and the revelation of future events and truths.
Emotional Meaning[]
While the ruby is known as the primary color of love and passion because of its red hue, in ancient times the emerald was also considered to be a stone of love, its green color representing vitality, new beginnings and the spring season. For this reason, it's the perfect gemstone to represent happy new beginnings, love and an eternal relationship. Emerald can also represent a faithful relationship and strong natural connection with a partner.
Some believe that the emerald can reveal true love and bring partners closer together. While the ruby is known to be the stone of passionate love, the emerald is known to be the stone of faithful, deep and mature love. For these reasons, the emerald is a great gemstone to present to a loved one for an engagement or anniversary, or as a promise ring.
Wellness Meaning[]
The emerald is believed by many to be a healing gemstone for ailments of the body and mind. Many ancient healers believed that wearing or being near an emerald would promote wellness of the heart. Additionally, some thought the green color and soothing properties of the emerald would bring relief to the eyes and heal vision ailments. In ancient times, to treat the eyes, emerald were soaked in water overnight, and the water was poured over the eyes. Because of their mythological rejuvenating qualities, emeralds are thought to revitalize tired organs and treat parts of the body like the kidneys, pancreas and the immune system.
Emeralds are also believed to have a soothing energy that generates freshness and vitality in the spirit of the wearer. A stone that embodies patience and compassion, the stone imbues the wearer with those same qualities while enhancing mental clarity and focus. When kept in the workplace, the emerald is said to have an energy that promotes creativity and harmony among team members. It is thought to bring focus and activate creativity.
Emerald Birthstone[]
Emerald is known as a gemstone for those born in the spring. For those born in that time, the emerald is thought to bring renewed life force, success in new ventures and good health. The emerald is also said to help the wearer see things clearly and rationally, encourage meditation and reflection, and bring out the natural wanderer, explorer and scientist.
While we don't have a catalog of emerald rings, we are happy to craft a custom emerald engagement ring for you. Our gemologists have decades of experience in crafting gemstone engagement rings of all varieties, budgets and styles. Speak with us today and we can craft a ring for you.
Emerald History[]
The name emerald comes from the Sanskrit word “marakata," which means spring green. Many legends and stories surround this magnificent and powerful stone. The Chaldeans, a kingdom of Biblical times, believed emeralds contained Ishtar, their goddess of love and war. In the Middle East, an emerald amulet would often be engraved with a verse from sacred religious texts.
Ancient Egyptians believed the green color of emerald represented fertility and rebirth. They would commonly carve emerald scarabs and place them at the heart of a mummy to make the deceased's health flourish in the afterlife. Cleopatra herself was known for her fascination with emeralds. Pale green emeralds were once thought by the Romans to be unripe and as they changed to a darker shade of green, they were maturing in potency. Gazing into the cool green color was reported by Pliny, an author and philosopher of ancient Rome, to ease eyestrain. The Roman emperor Nero Augustus reportedly watched gladiator games through a large emerald gemstone because he found the color to be calming.
In some legends, the Holy Grail used by Christ at the last supper was made from a giant emerald. Later, the emerald grail was used to collect his blood dripping from the cross, imbuing the grail with fantastic and holy powers.
Emerald is the traditional birthstone for May, but is also associated with the Cancer zodiac. Mystical or Tibetan birthstone charts place emerald as the January stone, Polish and Russian birthstones say emerald is the May stone while according to ancient Hebrew birthstones, the emerald belongs to June. Aside from birthstones, emerald is the 20th and 35th wedding anniversary gift.
As May's birthstone, learn why emeralds are one of the most fascinating and cherished gemstones in the world and how to set your own emerald ring.
Emerald Metaphysical Properties[]
This mesmerizing stone's velvety green color is unmistakable. The rich color is renowned as a color of spring and has long been a symbol of romance, hope and rebirth. As the precious gem associated with the goddess Venus, emerald is also commonly believed to aid in fertility.
Throughout history, emeralds have often been associated with various goddesses of love and beauty, such as Venus. Emeralds were commonly believed to protect lovers from unfaithfulness. If the heart remained loyal, the gem would glow a beautiful green color, but it was thought that if a lover's heart went astray, the green color would lose its luster and rich color.
There were times in medieval history when emeralds were given to spouses because wearing an emerald was believed to enable the wearer to control their passion and lust. In addition, it was believed that wearing an emerald would improve memory and increase intuitive intelligence, enabling you to think clearly about the past, present and future.
Emeralds are believed to be encouraging, calming and balancing because of their color. They are also thought to promote creativity and restore optimistic hope in dreams and visions. They are thought to bring good fortune and are often seen in the cash boxes of business owners who seek to prosper in their endeavors.
Emerald Geological Properties[]
Emerald gemstones are a variety of beryl, which is the same mineral grouping as aquamarine. Genuine emeralds may include inclusions--referred to as "jardin," a French word that means garden--which can cloud the stone. These inclusions are not considered flaws and indicate an emerald is genuine, not created in a lab.
It is common to coat emeralds with clear oil, paraffin wax or clear resin to diminish the appearance of surface inclusions and deepen the green color. Emeralds range in color from light to dark green. The shade of green is determined by the presence of chromium oxide and vanadium.
Emeralds can be found all over the world, including countries in South America, Africa, the Middle East and Russia.
Proper Care of Emerald[]
Emeralds should be spared from rugged wear. The best way to clean emerald jewelry is with warm water, a soft brush and pat dry with a soft cloth. Protect emeralds from scratching and sharp blows that can fracture or shatter the stone. Avoid large temperature changes, ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners that can damage or remove the oil/wax/resin coating that protects the stone.
To learn more about emerald and other gemstones, order your copy of Walter Schumann's revised and expanded edition of Gemstones of the World.
Designing with Emerald[]
Precious emerald gemstone beads mix well with other brightly colored gemstone beads such as sapphires and ruby pink Malaysia jade, vividly dyed agate and brightly colored onyx gemstone beads. Elegant styles made with silver metals create a cooling effect while designs fashioned with gold-filled and "vermeil" evoke an ancient royal essence. Pair emeralds with other green gemstones, crystal beads and lustrous cultured freshwater pearl beads for statement jewelry designs.