From the desk of our gemologist

You have heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers”. We have experienced that this year. Everything is starting to green up and life is starting to form.  The green of the Emerald,  May’s gemstone,  makes it the perfect symbol for May.

The earliest records we have on emerald mining dates to 330 BC in Egypt.   Cleopatra was obsessed with the stone. She had her own personal emerald mine which she had taken from the Greeks. People of wealth in Egypt were buried with emeralds because they believed that emeralds had the power to ensure eternal youth.

Emeralds had legendary powers.  It was believed that if you put an emerald under your tongue,  you can see in the future.  I have yet to try that but someday I just might have to!  Emeralds are also believed to have the power to get rid of evil spirits, cure diseases, make you a powerful speaker, and show you the truth behind a lover’s oath.  Today wearing an emerald is believed to relieve stress because of its soothing green color.

Emerald is the most well-known variety of the mineral beryl (others include aquamarine and morganite). A modern alternative to mined emeralds is lab-grown gems. These have the same physical characteristics as earth grown stones and can be a good cost-effective option.  Emeralds rank 7.5-8 on the MOHS scale.  As with any piece of jewelry, you must take care of it by having your jeweler examine it every 6-12 months to ensure your jewelry lasts a lifetime!

Pictures via gia.edu gem encyclopedia