May Birthstone: Emerald

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Emerald. The Green Variety of Beryl.

Light, dark and even with a blueish tint… Emeralds are truly stunning gemstones which are often misunderstood. Part of the classic gemstone trilogy which consists of Emeralds, Sapphires and Rubies, it is a classic stone which will never go out of style. Not only the birthstone for May but it’s also the anniversary stone for 55 years of marriage (hint hint!).
If you wear Emeralds as a birthstone, it’s believed this mesmerising gemstone will keep the wearer calm and healthy. Historically Emeralds were mined in Egypt as early as 3500 B.C. So, it will come as no surprise that Cleopatra’s Emerald collection came from her own mines...

The Rockefeller Emerald

The Rockefeller Emerald

A huge 18.04ct Columbian Emerald once owned by the Rockefeller family sold at auction for more than $5.5 million in 2017. Harry Winston was the lucky jeweller to pick up this piece of history.

If you find natures creations interesting or maybe you like a bit of science, then this part is for you! The composition of an Emerald includes Berylium, Aluminium and Silicate, with trace elements of Vanadium or Chromium as the colour causing element. What is it the best colour I hear you shout!? Some consider the best colour causing combination to be Chromium and a hint of Iron, giving a slight blueish tint to the green. Forming only if conditions are absolutely correct. When pegmatites intersect with schists bringing all the right elements together with heat, pressure, and the time to grow in a hexagonal crystal structure.

 

The Stotesbury Emerald

The Stotesbury Emerald

A 34ct hexagon-shaped stone which was crafted by Pierre Cartier back in 1908. Fun fact – Heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean once traded this Emerald for the Hope Diamond.



The best quality Emeralds today are being mined in Brazil, Zambia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and some of the most highly prized Emeralds come from Columbia.
If you are on the market for a new piece of Emerald jewellery you may have noticed that the term ‘Zambian’ is often used to describe stones that are slightly darker and more blueish than the Columbian variant. In addition, they often have higher clarity too. Most emeralds contain characteristics whether they are feather inclusions or very interesting 2 or 3 phase inclusions which contain a liquid filling along with a crystal and a gas bubble. In most cases the inclusions within Emeralds add to the natural and captivating look of the stone.

The Flagler Emerald

The Flagler Emerald

A 35.02ct Columbian emerald that belonged to the wife of Henry Flagler, and American industrialist and developer of Florida’s Eastern coastline.

 

Care should be taken when cleaning your Emeralds. Just a warm solution with a very mild detergent and a soft bristle brush to remove surface build up of dirt and debris. If you need any advice on your Emerald jewellery, please feel free to visit us for more information and guidance.