Emeralds belong to the most precious gemstones. A quality emerald can cost more than a diamond, and emeralds have been highly valued in many ancient cultures.
The word emerald simply means a green gemstone and comes from the Greek word “smaragdos” and the Old French word “esmeralde”. Emeralds were already mined in ancient Egypt between 3000 and 1500 BC, and they have also been known in the Inca and Aztec cultures in South America, as well as in India where the sacred scriptures, or Vedas, describe emeralds as stones that can bring good luck.
What are Emeralds
Emeralds are loved around the world for their green color, and deep green emeralds are the most valuable. Some stones can also have a slightly blue tone and some have a yellowish green shade, but lighter green emeralds are considered lower quality. The best emeralds come from Colombia and are pure, deep green.
Emeralds belong to the mineral group beryl and are relatively hard gemstones, graded at 7.5 to 8 on Mohs scale (the internationally accepted scale used to determine the hardness of gemstones). Emeralds don't scratch easily but they are brittle. It is difficult to find an emerald without any flaws, and even in the best stones some small flaws, such as cracks or inclusions, are usually acceptable. Most emeralds have some small inclusions and the stones are often treated with a process called oiling, which makes the flaws less visible and the stones clearer.
Because of their natural flaws, emeralds can be difficult to work with. The "emerald cut" is a way of cutting the stone that has been created especially for working with this beautiful but challenging gemstone. Since genuine emeralds are so expensive, synthetic and fake emeralds have become increasingly common, and to find a true emerald it is important to buy from a reputable dealer.
Emeralds in History and Folklore
Emeralds have an important place in the myths and folklores of many countries. The Aztec and Inca cultures in South America considered emeralds to be holy stones. The ancient Egyptians, including Cleopatra herself, held emeralds in high regard. The Romans linked green emeralds with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, and the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, talk about emeralds as stones that can bring wellbeing and good luck.
In different cultures emeralds were believed to bring contentment and love, to heal eye problems, to improve the memory and intelligence of anyone who wears them and to give their owner the ability to see into the future. In today's astrology, emerald is associated with the Zodiac signs Cancer and Taurus. It is also the birthstone for the month of May.
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