May’s birthstone is the emerald, a precious gemstone known for its rare green color. Since ancient times, kings and queens have coveted this lush green stone for its beauty, rarity, and symbolism. Today, emerald jewelry is still adored for its captivating look and deep meaning. It’s the perfect gift for May birthdays and a worthwhile addition to any jewelry lover’s collection.
What Is May’s Birthstone?
Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. This gemstone, the green variety of the mineral beryl, is best known for its unique green hue. Emerald ranges from lush bluish green to green. For beryl to be considered emerald, it needs to have a richly saturated, deep green color. Stones that are too light to be called emerald are known as green beryl.
Emerald gets its color from the presence of chromium or vanadium, and can also contain iron. The amount of each element changes the color and saturation of the emerald. Chromium and vanadium create an intense green color, while iron adds blue tone.
Meaning of Emerald Birthstone
Emeralds are a symbol of rebirth and renewal, making the gem a natural choice for May’s birthstone. With its lush green hue, emerald is the perfect fit for the heart of spring.
In ancient times, people believed emeralds had a range of magical powers, including healing powers. Roman natural philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote that gazing upon an emerald could relieve eye strain. Others believed emeralds could allow you to see into the future, strengthen your spirit, and make you a more eloquent speaker.
Today, emeralds are a symbol of rebirth, nature, prosperity, and luck. Emeralds are thought to be particularly lucky when worn by those born in the month of May. Emeralds are also the traditional gemstone given for 20th, 35th, and 55th wedding anniversaries. When worn in an engagement ring, wedding band, or anniversary band, emeralds are a symbol of true love and fidelity.
Emerald Birthstone Rarity & History
The emerald is a beloved gemstone with a long history. This precious stone gets its name from the Old French word esmeraude, which is itself derived from smaragdus, the ancient Greek word for green. Ancient texts from Pliny the Elder praise the emerald’s uniquely rich color, saying that “nothing greens greener.”
Some of the earliest records of emeralds come from the history of ancient Egypt. The Egyptian queen Cleopatra was particularly fond of emeralds and was known to be a collector. The first known emerald mines, which date back to at least 330 BC, were in Egypt.
In the 16th century, Spanish explorers began trading emeralds from Columbia. This made emeralds more available in Europe and Asia, where they quickly became popular among royals.
Today, many of the world’s best emeralds still come from South America. Columbian emeralds are known for their high quality. Another important source of fine emeralds is Minas Gerais, a mine in Brazil. This captivating green stone can also be found in Zambia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The world’s largest gem quality raw emerald, a 7,525 carat stone known as Chipembele, was discovered in Zambia.
How to Clean and Care For Emeralds
Emeralds are fairly hard, earning a 7.5 to 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. But due to their unique natural structure, they have special care needs.
Emeralds are naturally highly included, which can make them more prone to chipping when struck. They’re also often fracture filled to reduce the appearance of inclusions, so you want to avoid exposing them to anything that can remove this treatment.
Generally, you want to avoid exposing emeralds to heat and vibration. Never put emerald gems in an ultrasonic cleaner, which can easily damage fracture filling treatments. Avoid exposure to high heat, including the heat from hot water. Don’t bathe with emeralds on and remove emerald rings before using hot water to wash dishes.
The best way to clean emeralds is with a soft brush and lukewarm, soapy water. Remember to avoid using hot water when cleaning emeralds, as hot water can damage gemstone treatments.
Final Thoughts
Looking for more beautiful emerald birthstone jewelry? Find the perfect piece in our complete emerald collection.
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