Timeless Allure of Emerald Jewellery

Author: Martina Exnerová

We’re returning once again to the subject of the emerald in a short span of time. The world of emerald jewellery is an endless source of our enthusiasm and admiration for the beauty of this natural gemstone combined with the craftsmanship and creative skill of master jewellers.

Let’s review a few basic facts. The emerald is a captivating green stone, part of the so-called ‘Big Three’ coloured gemstones, which includes the ruby, sapphire, and emerald, which have been used in jewellery and sacred objects since ancient times. It’s a green to bluish-green mineral, considered one of the most famous and valuable varieties of beryl. Thanks to trace amounts of vanadium and chromium, this gemstone can boast truly exquisite shades.
Unlike other gemstones, internal inclusions in emeralds are often accepted as typical and highlight the gemstone’s natural origin. Some inclusions are even affectionately nicknamed ‘gardens’. On the Mohs scale of hardness, emeralds range from 7.5 to 8. For this reason, only experienced professionals work with emeralds, and they require careful handling.

A Stone Full of Power

The emerald is the birthstone for May. This beautifully green gemstone embodies the strength of peak spring or renewed nature and serves as a symbol of rebirth. This symbolism was already recognised by the ancient Egyptians, who mined and cherished this stone. During the rule of the Ptolemies, and especially under the reign of Queen Cleopatra, the emerald became an exceptionally popular gem. Its beauty and power were revered in ancient India and Persia, where the emerald was a symbol of eternal life in paradise. The gemstone was also highly regarded by rulers in the ancient Incan and Aztec empires.

Where to Find Emeralds

Now let’s move from the ancient history of emeralds to more recent times. We’ll start with the well-known emerald mines in Colombia, particularly in the areas of Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez. These regions have produced the most highly valued emeralds, used in famous jewellery pieces, which we’ll mention shortly. Today, Africa, and particularly Zambia, is also home to prominent deposits of high-quality emeralds, which are among the most valued alongside Colombian stones. High-quality emeralds are also traditionally found in several regions in Brazil. Emerald deposits are also found in the USA, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Australia. A unique category includes emeralds from the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Europe has one rare site where emeralds are found: in the Austrian Alps in the Habachtal region. However, these are old, small abandoned mines, not a traditional mining site. Today, emeralds are found here as rare finds in high-altitude, mostly stream locations.

The Most Famous Emerald Jewellery

The emerald is simply fascinating. Let’s recall a few of the most famous pieces of emerald jewellery. We’ve already mentioned the ancient Egyptians' fascination with emeralds. This admiration continued at royal courts. Among notable emerald jewellery pieces is the emerald brooch of Empress Catherine the Great, created in the mid-18th century and auctioned a few years ago at Christie’s. Another noteworthy set is the emerald and diamond suite belonging to Queen Victoria, now part of the British royal family’s collection. It includes a magnificent tiara gifted by Prince Albert in 1845, along with a brooch, earrings, and necklace.

Another notable piece is the Spanish Inquisition Necklace. This necklace has been on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC since 2008 and likely has no real link to the Inquisition. It was given this intriguing name by the famous jeweller Harry Winston, who bought it in 1947 from the Maharaja of Indore. Made from silver, it contains 374 white diamonds and 15 large emeralds. The diamonds were mined in India, while the origin of the emeralds is Colombian, although the time of their mining is unknown. According to Harry Winston, the necklace originally belonged to the Spanish royal family, which, with its colonies in South America, would have had access to high-quality emeralds. The famous jeweller lent the necklace to actress Katharine Hepburn for the Oscars the same year he purchased it.

We return once again to the topic of the emerald in a short space of time. The world of emerald jewellery remains an endless source of our admiration for the beauty of natural gemstones combined with the craftsmanship and creativity of master jewellers.

Emeralds on the Silver Screen

Emeralds are clearly a favourite gemstone of famous film personalities. A particularly fascinating example is the emerald and diamond set created for film star Elizabeth Taylor by her husband Richard Burton at Bvlgari during the 1960s. The brooch-pendant from this collection ranks among the most highly auctioned emerald jewellery pieces at Christie's. Notably, both Colombian and African emeralds were used in the necklace and bracelet from this set. Today, Zambian emeralds can often rival Colombian emeralds in terms of quality, especially in terms of depth and brilliance of green colour.

Another remarkable piece are the exquisite emerald drop earrings of extraordinary size, complemented by an emerald ring, which adorned Angelina Jolie at the 2009 Academy Awards.

Also noteworthy are the fantastic emerald drop earrings (adorned with diamonds and pearls), known as the Grand Muzos, which were first presented by Christie's in 2012 and sold for $4.2 million. They were auctioned again in 2019, fetching $4.5 million, demonstrating the ongoing demand for gemstones, especially those of the highest quality.

If you too have fallen under the spell of these beautiful and magical stones, we currently have a selection of stunning emerald jewellery available, and more will surely follow. We look forward to your interest in our jewellery on our e-shop and especially your visit to our store on Maiselova Street, where you can view and try on all our offered pieces in person.

Click here to explore our current collection of emerald jewellery!