The birthstone for May is the Emerald.

Fine emeralds can be worth more than diamonds of the same size and quality. Here’s why...

Emeralds are most definitely on the A-list when it comes to jewels and coveted through the centuries. Shakespeare equated them to England in Richard II when he wrote, ‘This emerald isle set in a sapphire sea’. More traditionally they are the feature stone against a surround cast of diamonds. Richard Burton gifted Elizabeth Taylor a stunning Bulgari Diamond-and-Emerald Necklace in 1962, when they were filming Cleopatra.

The history of the emerald goes much further back than the golden age of Hollywood or even the Bard’s work. The Incas and Aztecs regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone.

It’s in their South America, and specifically Columbia, where the best emeralds are found today - known for their transparency, crystallization and fire.

The emerald is a member of the Beryl family - which occurs naturally in many colours. The green colour results from traces of chromium - which must be present for it to be classified a true emerald. The quality of an emerald is assessed by four equally important ‘c’ elements - cut, colour, clarity and carat.

Most emeralds have natural inclusions and flaws which add to the stones character, depth of colour and, mostly acceptable, can often add rather than detract from the stone’s beauty and associated value.

Unlike diamonds, emeralds can be brittle - which is why the emerald cut was specifically created to protect the stone from damage when set.

The emerald is also associated with 55th anniversaries - so could also make the perfect birthday or wedding anniversary gift. Not for no reason is it also considered the ‘stone of successful love’.

Published by Jez T. on Monday, May 28, 2012 in Jewellery News. Comments: 0

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