The Emerald Story: History, Origin & Usage in Life

“It’s hard not to stand in awe and enchantment with the beauty in which nature expresses herself.”-  Steve Maraboli

It is definitely hard not to stand in awe and enchantment of the lush green gemstone – Emerald! The birthstone of May, the enamored Emerald is a unique symbol of hope, faith and loyalty. Long prized for its beauty and rarity, the symbol of love, rebirth and renewal comes in an array of green hues.

With each passing year, jewelry designers have found new ways to showcase emeralds in a modern way.

History of Emerald

The word “Emerald” is derived from the Greek word ‘Smaragdus’ which means ‘Green’.

From Egyptian pharaohs to Inca emperors, the emerald has enchanted royalty. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emeralds and used them in her royal embellishments. The legendary Crown of the Andes, fashioned in colonial South America, is one example of how the Spanish revered the May birthstone.

 

The green birthstone was also thought to have magical powers. By placing it under the tongue, one could see into the future. Some believed it made one an eloquent speaker and exposed lovers who made false promises.

Emerald Origin

The origin of an emerald has a huge effect on its price. Approximately 50% to 95% of the world’s emerald production hails from Colombia, though it all depends on the particular year, precise origin, and emerald grade. Due to the demand of Colombian emeralds, they tend to carry a higher price point than those of equal quality from other origins.

 

Zambia obtains second position for emerald production. Zambian emeralds tend to have a darker hue, more of a lush forest green color. Emeralds are also found in other places, namely Australia, Egypt, Canada, Norway, China, Switzerland, and even in the United States.

Emeralds Formation

Emeralds are formed from the mineral Beryl. When the Beryl is pure, it doesn’t have any color. It gets its color from the impurities of Vanadium, Chromium or both. With the assumption of having enough space, this mineral can be formed in the right pressure and temperature with the help of beryllium, silicon, aluminium and oxygen.

Uses in Life

Emeralds are one of the four most rare precious gemstones next to diamond, ruby and sapphire. An emerald however, has qualities that cannot be ignored. Why should one buy an emerald?

• Investment value: carat for carat, a fine untreated emerald maybe two to three times as valuable as a diamond.
• This stone is a favored gift for the twentieth and the thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.
• On the Mohs scale of hardness, emeralds rank 7.5/10, making it durable for everyday wear.

At Gemsny, we own our entire inventory, so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting exactly what is described. We also offer certificates from independent laboratories such as the GIA or AGL with most of our emeralds.

To sweeten the deal, we allow you to customize your own pieces around any of our gemstones. We believe that our quality of work stands out and we assure you that you will acquire the finest gems and jewelry from us.

Have you checked our latest Emerald Rings collection yet?