Sunday’s Gem — Emerald

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

We’ve already talked about two of the “Big Three” colored gemstones — Ruby and Sapphire.

Now it’s time to move on to the other one, Emerald!

A member of the beryl family, Emerald gets its distinctive green color from small amounts of chromium or vanadium. Ranging from bluish green to yellowish green, a true Emerald must display a rich color (weak hues are relegated to the term “green beryl,” which generally doesn’t cost as much).

Be careful buying Emerald online as I’m told many sources consider any green stone to be Emerald!

The word “Emerald” is believed to come from the ancient Persian. Records indicate it was sold in Babylonian markets as early as 4000 B.C.

Today, most Emeralds are found in Colombia, Brazil, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Just look at this 11,000-carat raw emerald found in Colombia:

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Thanks to Luxuo for the photo

A 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness (10 being the hardest), Emerald is considered a fragile stone because of its many inclusions. Set your Emeralds in earrings or pendants rather than rings or bracelets, unless you don’t plan to wear them regularly.

Legends abound over Emerald — the Holy Grail of King Arthur’s tales is said to have been fashioned from Emerald; Emerald was one of four stones God gave to King Solomon; and Cortez tried to bring home Emeralds taken from the Aztecs but one of his ships sank, losing the stones forever.

Ancient peoples associated Emerald with the goddess Venus and believed it boosted fertility. Rulers, including Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, were fond of Emeralds; so are celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Angelina Jolie.

Emerald is listed in the Bible’s Book of Exodus as the fourth stone in the breastplate of the Jewish High Priest. The Emperor Nero used an eyeglass of Emerald to watch gladiators. Emerald was used as an antidote for poison and to drive away evil spirits.

Emerald is the traditional birthstone for May and the zodiac birthstone for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Libra. It’s the anniversary stone for 20 and 55 years.

Associated with the Heart Chakra, Emerald is said to bring love and loyalty, abundance, serenity, and clarity. It’s the stone of deep, mature love.

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This stunning Emerald and Diamond necklace is available for $350,000 at 1st Dibs, based in New York

Aristotle wrote that owning an Emerald is beneficial for business, helps settle litigation, soothes eyesight, and helps prevent epilepsy. Used in the workplace, Emerald promotes creativity and harmony.

Feng Shui experts consider Emerald as Wood Energy (health, growth, and new beginnings) and recommend placing it in the East and Southeast areas of a home or room.

Note: The claims here aren’t meant to take the place of medical advice. They’re based on folklore and other sources, and likely “work” best if one’s belief is strong enough!