Emerald – the official birthstone for May
The official birthstone for May is the Emerald. And, for anyone with a passion for luxury and precious green gems. A May birthstone benefits anyone born that month, with the possibility of an incredible gemstone.
The ‘Gem of Springtime’ with its breathtaking green hues also stands as the gem of the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
What does “nothing greens greener” mean?
“Nothing greens greener.” That’s how the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder famously described emeralds in his first-century encyclopedia, Natural History. This poetic nod to the unrivalled green colour, emphasised that no colour in nature—no leaf, gem, or landscape—surpasses the vivid green of an emerald.
He was right: the rich, intense hue of emeralds remains unmatched and is a major reason why these stones have captivated people for centuries.
The difference between Beryl and Emerald.
Emerald is a green to greenish-blue variety of beryl and demands a particularly dark hue to be named an Emerald. If the shade is too light, then the gemstone is graded as a Beryl instead.
History And Origin
The oldest Emeralds date back 2.97 billion years to South Africa. The first known mines were in Egypt, dating back to at least 330 BC and continuing into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for Emeralds and used them in her royal adornments.
In ancient Greek Mythology, it is said that Hermes gifted the goddess of love, Aphrodite, a giant Emerald. Additionally, both Greeks and Romans believed the emerald possessed great powers. The ancient Romans associated the emerald with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
A Healing Gemstone
This beautiful gemstone has both physical and mental healing properties. It can help improve one’s healing from negative thoughts and heal both emotional and physical heart issues. It can also help improve liver function, reduce infections from illnesses, and alleviate symptoms in the sinuses and lungs. In addition, it is generally a sign of good fortune.
An Emerald is said to be a bridge between two people when the gem is given in unconditional love.
Lab-Grown vs Natural
Lab-grown alternatives for this gemstone choice include synthetic varieties, deep in colour, yet clear. Unlike their natural counterparts with visible inclusions, lab-grown gemstones cost a fraction of the price. Although lower in value, their appearance matches the finest intensity of a real gemstone.
Emerald Birthstone Gift Inspiration
For birthstone gift ideas, visit the Serendipity showroom or website.
Emerald Engagement Rings
As with all gemstone varieties, a wide range of shapes and cuts is available, contrary to the traditional shape, we can also supply them in most fancy shapes, such as Oval or Round. To create an Emerald engagement ring, we can initially look into providing a range of qualities and particular shades of green.
In particular, an emerald engagement ring set with a brilliant white diamond halo creates an unusual, striking finished effect.
Hidden ‘Secret’ Emeralds added into rings
We created the ring below as part of a bespoke ring commission for one of our clients living in the USA. As part of the design, we set the couple’s birthstones in the ring’s band. Secret diamonds and gemstones add a lovely touch, sealed inside the ring, and a unique personalised detail for any custom-made ring design.
US Mother’s Day Rings
US citizens celebrate Mother’s Day in May each year. What better occasion than to commission a Mother’s Ring for her, set with your birthstone and a personal message?
May Birthstone Necklaces
Alternative styles include a pendant with a brilliant white diamond halo.
Emerald Cluster Ring Designs
This green gemstone benefits from a cluster ring design. Set alongside brilliant white diamonds, all of which match perfectly before setting, creates a classic look as well as a modern statement. The example shows our client’s incredible yellow-gold cluster ring design.
Emerald quality and inclusions
Emeralds typically contain inclusions that are visible to the unaided eye. Because of this, trade members and some consumers understand and accept the presence of inclusions. Eye-clean emeralds are precious because they’re so rare.
Interestingly, mines in Colombia, in northern South America, produce emeralds for the majority of the world.
The inclusions look mossy or garden-like. They’re sometimes called “Jardin,” which is French for garden.
Colour
Firstly, and most importantly, the most desirable colours are bluish-green to pure green, with vivid colour saturation and a tone that’s not too dark. The most-prized emeralds are highly transparent. If the hue is too yellowish or too bluish, the stone is not an emerald but a different variety of beryl, and its value drops accordingly.
Carat Weight
Available in a wide range of carat weights. The Sandawana mine in Zimbabwe is known for its tiny yet vividly coloured stones. Its emeralds are as small as 1 mm square, but they’re still intensely green. The mine’s cut stones average about 0.05 to 0.25 carats and rarely weigh more than 1.50 carats.
The smallest sizes range from 1 mm to 5 mm, with weights from 0.02 to 0.50 carats, while stones ranging from 1 to 5 carats are popular as centre stones. Prestigious pieces of jewellery can include emeralds that weigh over 20 carats.
Emerald Bespoke Design
Although most of our designs are available with an alternative gemstone option, it’s possible that you’ve envisioned the perfect design, whether it’s a ring, pendant, or even earrings. Therefore, our bespoke design is the ideal option for bringing your amazing emerald piece to life.
With a showroom based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, appointments are available from Mondays to Saturdays. In comfortable surroundings, most importantly, we can discuss the design and ensure we have some gemstones here for your appointment to view and select the perfect green!
Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day and Green Clover
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a ‘shamrock’ or clover ring featuring this vibrant green gem.
The Meaning of the Shamrock, the symbol of Ireland. The word “shamrock” comes from the Old Irish “seamróg”, meaning “little clover.” The shamrock is the most common 3-leaf clover native to the Emerald Isle.
Caring For Your Gemstone
How to clean and care for your gemstone. Ultrasonic vibrations can weaken already fractured stones, and hot steam can cause oil or unhardened resin to seep out of fractures. Moreover, using warm, soapy water coupled with gentle scrubbing is the safest way to clean the gemstone. Take special care while cleaning this gemstone.
Sources
- Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Emerald Gemstone Information.
https://www.gia.edu/emerald - Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book 37, 1st century AD.
Translation available via Perseus Digital Library. - National Jeweller, Everything You Need to Know About Emeralds.
https://www.nationaljeweler.com - Smithsonian Institution, Gems and Minerals Collection.
https://naturalhistory.si.edu
About Mark Johnson
My name is Mark and I'm founder at Serendipity Diamonds. I have 30 years or experience in polished diamonds and jewellery. Today, I work with an expert team in our Isle of Wight jewellery showroom located in Ryde. Most of my work involves helping clients in our showroom, working on our two websites and photographing jewellery commissions.
