Emerald

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Jewelry 101--Colored Stones

Emerald

Perhaps most well-known for its gorgeous green color and its numerous inclusions, or flaws, emeralds are considered one of the four precious gemstones along with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Unfortunately the availability of natural high-quality emeralds with few inclusions are limited and extremely expensive. Synthetic emeralds, however, produced in a lab but sharing virtually all of the chemical, optical, and physical characteristics of natural emeralds are readily available. Though much less valuable, synthetic emeralds often outshine their natural counterparts in clarity and color.

Like aquamarine, emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, in fact the most famous variety of this mineral.
The deeper or more green an emerald is, the more valuable it is with the rarest emerald gemstones appearing to be an intense green-blue color.
Gem experts agree that when the green variety of beryl is too light it is classified as green beryl rather than emerald. The problem is that gemologists do not necessarily agree what color green is “too light” to be an emerald.
Emerald’s name comes from the ancient Greek word for green, “smaragdus.”
Rome’s Pliny the Elder described emerald in his Natural History, published in the first century AD, as “…nothing greens greener”. He also described the use of emerald by early lapidaries, who restored their eyes by looking into an emerald because they “have no better method of restoring their eyes than by looking at the emerald, its soft, green color comforting”. In modern times the color green is known to relieve stress and eye strain.
Emerald is associated with the riches greens and lushest of landscapes such as the Emerald Isle in Ireland.
The most sacred religious icon is called the Emerald Buddha even though it’s actually carved from green jadeite.
The first known emerald mines, dating from at least 330 BC and into the 1700s, were in Egypt.
Cleopatra was known to adore emeralds, using them in her royal adornments. Mines named “Cleopatra’s Mines” are situated in Jabal Sukayt and Jabal Zabārah near the Red Sea coast, east of Aswān.
The Incas in what is now known as Colombia had been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years before Spanish explorers in the 16th Century invaded the New World. The Spanish, who usually treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded these precious metals for emeralds. More often, however, the Spanish invaders simply took the emeralds from the Incas.
Commonly treated with oil or synthetic lubricants, the beauty of the heavily flawed emeralds is enhanced. Since emeralds that lack surface breaking fissures are extremely rare it should be assumed, unless otherwise specified, that an emerald has been oiled or otherwise fracture-filled.
The inclusions and fissures within an emerald are sometime described as jardin (French for garden), because of their mossy appearance.
Though today the finest emeralds are traditionally from Colombia, important emerald deposits are also in Brazil, China, Afghanistan, Russia, Mozambique, South Africa, and the U.S. (North Carolina). Zambia has also become a recent significant producer.
By far the world's largest producer of emeralds, Colombia constitutes 50–95% of the world production, depending on the year, source and grade.
Responsible for 20% of the world’s production of gem-quality emeralds in 2004, Zambia is the second biggest producer of emeralds.
Synthetic emeralds have been developed by producing emerald overgrowth on colorless beryl. Though much less expensive than natural stones, these synthetic gemstones have the same properties of emeralds without the numerous flaws that natural emeralds have.
Chatham’s emeralds are the most famous of synthetic emeralds.
Elizabeth Taylor’s famous emerald pendant sold for $6.5 million in 2011, which comes to $280,000 per carat.
Emerald’s green color has inspired Pantone, the global authority on color, to declare “Emerald” the 2013 Color of the Year.
Emerald is the gem of the twentieth and thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries.
Emerald is the birthstone for May.

Specs

Chemical Formula	Be₃Al₂SiO₆	Mineral Class	Beryl
Color	Green
Crystal System	Hexagonal	Hardness	7.5-8
Transparency	Transparent to translucent	Luster	Vitreous
Refractory Index	1.577 - 1.583	Double Refraction	0.005 - 0.009

Legends

Historically emeralds were believed to endow the wearer with the ability to foresee the future when placed under the tongue. It was also believed to reveal truth and protect against evil spells. Similarly wearing an emerald was believed to reveal the truth or falseness of a lover’s oath as well as make one an eloquent speaker.

Believed to have endowed King Solomon with power over all creation, legend states that emerald was one of the four precious stones given to him by God.

In the past emeralds were also believed to have medicinal powers. When held in the mouth, emeralds were said to cure dysentery, when looked into, to relieve eyestrain. Emeralds were also believed to assist women at childbirth by driving away evil spirits and to prevent epilepsy, shattering if it was unable to overcome a seizure.

Legends say that Arab, Hindu, and Spanish physicians used emeralds against poison and infection.

Many ancient tales about India tell of fabulously wealthy cities with walls or entire temples made of emeralds and other precious materials.

Hindus believe that those offering emeralds to the god Krishna will receive “Knowledge of the Soul and the Eternal.” Hindu teachings also associate emerald with the planet Mercury, such as in the traditional “nine-gem” Navaratna jewel setting.

Other civilizations offer precious gems to their gods, too. In the 16th century CE, the Spanish historian Francisco López de Gómara wrote about the natives of northern South America and noted that they “burned gold and emeralds” before images of the Sun and Moon, their highest divinities.

The people of the Peruvian city of Manta worshipped an emerald the size of an ostrich egg believing it was the goddess Umina. According to them, her followers should worship “The Mother Emerald” by bringing her “Daughters”, smaller emeralds, to her.

Today it is believed by some that emerald is an excellent stone for reviving passion, whether for an interest, a person, or a job. It is also believed that wearing or carrying an emerald out of sight near the heart can attract romantic love and can call back an estranged love by holding the stone close to your lips and speaking the words you wish to say, then sealing it in an envelope.

In tumble stone form, it is believed that emerald promotes good self-esteem, especially in restoring the confidence of young girls or teens or any young person made to feel inferior.

Believed to be a stone of inspiration, emerald is considered to open the heart, clear and strengthen one’s connection to Diving Love, and sustain one’s spiritual journey.

Chakra

Emerald is considered to open and nurture the heart and heart chakra. As a stone of inspiration and infinite patience it embodies unity, compassion, and unconditional love.

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