May 12, 2021
Image: Emerald gemstone heart- clipartpanda.com
The birthstone for the month of May is the emerald. In articles from jewelryinfoplace.com and crystalcure.com we learn not only the origins but the beliefs associated with this gem.
It is believed that the origination of assigning a birthstone for each month dates back to a breastplate that Aaron, the older brother of Moses, wore, which represented the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In biblical times, people wore the gemstone assigned to month that the stone represented as a talisman.
In 1912, the American National Association of Jewelers created an official list of gemstones that represented each month with the birthstone for May being the emerald.
Meaning
The emerald is the sacred stone of the goddess Venus. It was thought to preserve love. The emerald has long been the symbol of hope. It is considered by many to be the stone of prophecy. For some the emerald acts as a tranquilizer for a troubled mind. The emerald is said to bring the wearer reason and wisdom. The strongest time for the powers of the emerald is said to be spring.
Lucky for love, give your lover an emerald to stay faithful.
In several cultures the emerald was the symbol for fertilizing rain. In the Christian faith it is the symbol of faith and hope.
History
The word, “emerald,” comes from the Latin term “smaragdus,” signifying green gem. Cleopatra adored emeralds and put a claim on all mines in Egypt. The emerald was discovered before her birth and the mining dates back to Ramses II, around 1300 B.C. Emeralds were worn by Egyptian royalty and accompanied them when being buried. Egyptian emeralds were eventually considered to be a step down from later found Columbian gems.
Ancient Muzo Indians from Columbia established efficacious emerald mines dating back as far as 500 A.D. The Indians hid these mines from the invading Spanish for over twenty years. The Indians who celebrated the use of emeralds for so many years were forced into slavery to mine the gemstone for the Conquistadors. Since that time period, the emerald mines in Columbia have not been interrupted.
Healing Properties
Emerald is used by healers to help heal the heart. The power of the Emerald is highest at the full moon.
Some cultures thought the emerald would heal any disease of the eye. The emerald would be placed in a container of water overnight and the water would be poured on the eyes the next day.
Emerald is a stone of great harmony, wisdom and love. Giving your lover an Emerald will bring the lover closer if the giver's motives are pure love. The Emerald can be a bridge between 2 people. The Emerald vibrates with love.
Sources of Emerald
The proper name for the emerald is beryl, but there are different colors of beryl. Emerald green is the color as well as the stone. Most emeralds have inclusions (bubbles) in them. If the stone has too much blue in it, it is then an aquamarine. Pink beryl is Morganite, yellow beryl is golden beryl, yellow-green beryl is heliodor. There is also a rare red beryl. The best beryl comes from Colombia and Brazil. Emerald can also be found in India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. An emerald of the right shade of green can be more valuable than a diamond.
What is an emerald’s color?
The emerald has variations ranging from light green to dark green. Columbian stones have the element chromium, which is responsible for the purest green colors in emeralds. Brazilian gemstones get their color primarily from small amounts of the element vanadium. Zambian emeralds receive their color from iron.
Where are emeralds found?
Most of the emeralds mined in the world come from three locations: Columbia, Brazil, and Zambia with the majority of all emeralds coming from Columbia at 50-90% of all production. This number has grown exponentially over the last decade.
Columbia typically has the best and most expensive emeralds. Colombian emeralds get their color primarily from the trace amounts of the element chromium, which is responsible for some of the purest greens in gemstones. The second largest producer of emeralds is Zambia, and then third comes Brazil.
The emerald stone is also mined in smaller capacities throughout the world in places such as Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Cambodia, Australia, Egypt, India, Austria, and the United States.
What is the largest emerald stone found?
The Bahia Emerald is the largest and most famous emerald in history. This stone was found in the early 2,000’s in Brazil. This emerald is approximately 840 lbs. and 1,900,000 carats. The stone has been valued at over $400 million dollars, but it is unclear who the real owner is. At least 7 different people claim ownership of the Bahia Emerald, but it is up to the judicial system to find its actual owner.
What are the properties of an emerald?
The mineral beryl makes up the green in the emerald gemstone. The blue variety of the mineral beryl is Aquamarine and emeralds are in the same family. Beryl is also known as beryllium aluminum silicate or the chemical composition of Be3Al2Si6O18. Their color derives from small quantities of chromium.
What are the healing powers of the emerald gemstone?
It is believed that the emerald has many healing powers. It is supposed to alleviate emotional heaviness and balance energy. It is also known to help with inspirations, faith, calmness, and wealth. The emerald is even known to heal heartbreak by clearing away undesirable patterns of loss by reinforcing the emotional and physical heart centers. It is also known to be a stone of rebirth and recovery. The emerald is also known to bring in brilliance, love, liveliness, and empathy.
How do you clean emerald jewelry?
The best way to get beautiful results when cleaning your emerald is to bring it to a jeweler. However, you can also clean your emerald jewelry at home.
To clean your emerald, use water that is room temperature. Use a soft toothbrush with a mild soap, or Woolite and carefully cleanse the ston, which should begin to brighten during the cleaning process. Rinse the emerald in warm water and then pat dry.
Make sure that you do not attempt to clean an emerald with an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaner.
How do you care for emerald jewelry?
Remove your emerald jewelry when cleaning dirty dishes and don’t wear it near anything that will attract grease. These substances can accumulate on the gemstone and it will begin to lose its brilliance. It is also a good idea not to wear an emerald when doing any strenuous physical activity, as it may scratch the stone.
Do not wear emerald jewelry when working with acetone, as this could potentially damage the stone. The emerald should also never be exposed to high heat. Avoid any contact with harsh chemicals, dirt, and any substand that could stick to the emerald.
What is an emerald stones value?
An emerald is valued similarly to the way a diamond is priced. The 4 C’s are what is used to properly price an emerald. They are color, carat, cut, and clarity. Most jewelers will also look for the size when evaluating the stone and determine where the stone originates from.
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