EMERALD

“ Nothing is more intense than the green of emerald and sight is refreshed and restored by gazing upon
   this stone ” - Pliny

BASICS

• Emerald is the most valuable type of beryl. It is colored by minute traces of chromium and vanadium
• The ancients prized it as the symbol of love, rebirth and eternal youth
• The first emerald mines recorded in history are the famous Cleopatra mines rediscovered in 1818 in Northern Egypt
• Roman emperor Nero wore emerald sunglasses to watch the gladiators
• Emerald is said to give a supernatural ability to foretell future events
• Emerald was thought to improve its owner’s memory and eloquence, and was also said to quicken intelligence
• Women wearing the stone were believed to be immune from epilepsy
• The Moguls of India loved emeralds so much that they inscribed them with sacred texts and wore them as talismans
• Columbia Brazil , Zambia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Russia are producers of fine quality stones
• Emerald is the birthstone for May
• When choosing an emerald, the most important factor to consider is color. The more vivid the green, the more valuable the stone
• Avoid emeralds with fissures which go deep into the stone, because it makes the stone very sensible to accidental shocks
• Because the rich green color of emerald reminds of spring, it has been treasured for at least the past 4,000 years by different cultures all around the world