Emeralds have been beloved throughout human history, evoking re-birth, renewal and spring. The word “emerald” comes from the Greek word “smaragdos,” which means “green stone.” Variations of its rich color suggest soothing, lush green gardens. The Roman Emperor Nero is said to have used slices of emerald placed before his eyes to view gladiator fights.

Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May, and it is the gemstone for 20th wedding anniversaries.

Emerald Facts:

• Emerald is a variety of the beryl species and is related to aquamarine and green beryl.
• The first known emerald mines were in Egypt.
• Columbia has been the world’s main source for emeralds since the discovery of the New World. Other important sources are Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Madagascar, Russia, and Zambia.
• Emeralds have also been found in North America in Hidden, North Carolina, and the Yukon Territories in Canada.
• Emeralds have a hardness of 7.5-8.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale.
• Emerald is the only stone with a cut named after it.

Emerald Treatment:

• Some minute fissures naturally occur in emeralds and some treatments have been developed to diminish the appearance of these fissures and increase the transparency of the gems. These treatments include the infusion of oiling, paraffin, resins and polymers. Information about any stone known to be treated should be disclosed to the buyer.

Synthetic Emerald:

• Emerald can also be man-made, meaning it is manufactured in a lab rather than mined, and this should be understood by the seller and clearly disclosed to the buyer.

Emerald Care and Cleaning:

• To minimize scratching and wear, store each piece of fine jewelry separately in a soft cloth or padded container.
• Emerald jewelry should not be exposed to high heat or pressure, which could affect the fillings.
• Emerald jewelry is best cleaned with warm, sudsy water and a tightly woven microfiber or other soft cloth.
• Take all your fine jewelry to a professional jeweler at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and inspection.