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EMERALD GREEN MAY

Posted on: 05/17/2021
 
Author: Magdalena Kořínková
Green is the colour of hope, symbolising nature, abundance, and freshness. It's no wonder that the gemstone of May, a month brimming with greenery, is the magnificent emerald. Its stunning colour is unparalleled among other gemstones. Let's immerse ourselves in the world of emerald green.
 

Emerald is one of the precious stones that people have adorned themselves with for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found emerald mines dating back to Ancient Egypt (around 2000 BCE) in Wadi Sikait, and it was likely that Egypt was the only source of emeralds for the ancient European civilisations.

On the other side of the world, in Asia, emeralds were carved into statues of Buddha, and in Central America, emeralds were considered sacred stones by the Incan and Aztec empires, likely due to the belief among ancient thinkers that emeralds symbolised wisdom, logic, and prosperity.


Gemstone from the Big Four

The emerald owes its beautiful colour to the presence of vanadium and chromium. This gemstone’s distinctive, rich green hue may surprise you, as emeralds are not exclusively green. So-called “Brazilian” emeralds may have lighter colours with hints of yellow, while Zambian stones may have a bluish tint.

Alongside diamond, sapphire, and ruby, it is among the four most valuable gemstones in the world. Today, we know that "there is only one true emerald," but in the past, all beryls were referred to as emeralds. With a hardness of 7.5–8, it was once nearly classified as a semi-precious stone (you can read about the differences between gemstones and semi-precious stones in one of our previous articles here). Nonetheless, emeralds have historically been ranked among the most valuable stones, forming the essential quartet of "top gemstones" alongside diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.

emerald necklace



Beloved since the Days of Pharaohs

The oldest known emerald findings date back to between 3000 and 1500 BCE. They were found along the Red Sea in the mines of Egyptian rulers. This is why they were later called Cleopatra’s mines. From the Spanish conquests of South America to modern times, the most important emerald mines are in Colombia, though they are also mined in Brazil. In 2017, a 360-kg emerald was unearthed in Brazil!
Additional sources and emerald mines can be found in other parts of the world, such as in Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, and Siberia.


Crafted Beauty

Of all beryl gemstones, the emerald is the most fragile, meaning it must be handled carefully during cutting. Cutting emeralds is a challenging task, and to minimise the risk of damaging this precious stone, cutters invented the “emerald cut”, a rectangular cut with trimmed corners that showcases the emerald’s full beauty while protecting it from mechanical stress.
Another cut typical of emeralds is the teardrop or oval shape, along with the somewhat controversial trapiche cut, which forms a six-pointed star on the cross-section. This cut divides enthusiasts and investors into two often opposing camps, with some loving it and others disdaining it.
 
emerald jewellery

Emeralds in Our Hearts

Like diamonds, the emerald is a stone of love, loyalty, happiness, and harmony in relationships. It’s fitting that it is associated with the planet Venus, the month of May, and symbolises the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Emeralds, like diamonds, are also a good investment commodity. They are among the rarest and thus most expensive gemstones (often more valuable than diamonds at the same weight), with their value steadily rising. Interestingly, emeralds have a lower density, so when comparing a 1-carat emerald to a 1-carat diamond, the emerald appears larger.
 

Adorn Yourself with Emerald Jewellery

Famous and beautiful women such as Cleopatra, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy, and modern icons like Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie all adored emerald jewellery , and we love emeralds too.

At Antiques Cinolter, you’ll find stunning emerald-adorned jewellery, and we are happy to create a custom piece using our selection of loose gemstones.
 

The Rarest Emeralds

Mogul Emerald – a 10-cm tablet weighing 217.80 carats, was sold for $2.2 million to an anonymous buyer at an auction in London in 2001.
Patricia – an emerald weighing 632 carats can be seen at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
The Hooker Emerald – a legacy of the Ottoman Empire, once worn by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, was later crafted by Tiffany & Co. and is now on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC.
The Andean Royal Crown – even if you're not an avid museum-goer, the Metropolitan Museum is worth a visit just to see this incredible piece. Just imagine – 2 kg of gold and 450 emeralds certainly make for a sight worth seeing.
The emerald reserves of the Bogotá bank are also astonishing, though you likely won’t be granted access…