Make Her Green with Envy: Emeralds

Emerald is the green variety of the mineral Beryl and is considered to be one of the four "precious gemstones", among ruby, sapphire and diamond. It is most commonly worn as the May birthstone .

The most highly praised stone of the Incas; Emerald was once used as an aid for pregnant women, protecting them from the potential dangers of child birth. Its pure and intense green color is said represent the Earth's natural hues of the springtime. Emerald has been prized for its supposed abilities to make its wearer feel eloquent, creative and relaxed.

Colombian Emeralds are held in especially high esteem due to their exceptionally bold green color, showing no trace of a bluish tint. Zambian Emeralds tend to be darker than Colombian Emeralds and often contain evidence of a bluish tint. Zambian Emeralds are also highly regarded in international gem trade. Zimbabwe has a famous Mine called "Sandawana" containing Emeralds with a soft yellow-green shade.


Emerald is often referred to as the "garden" stone because nearly all pieces have small internal cracks. Ranked a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale (used to determine gem hardness), Emeralds are sufficiently durable for frequent wear, however despite their tough ranking, they are susceptible to chipping if handled roughly. Most Emeralds are infused with oil to mask cracks and enhance the stone's brilliance.