Emerald:  May's Birthstone

 

Not only is an emerald May's birth stone, it is also the anniversary gem for 20 and 35 years of marriage.  The meanings behind emeralds are:  wisdom, growth and patience.  This may explain why an emerald is given for and anniversary, it is synonymous with love and fidelity

May's Birthstone: Emerald
Birthstone Properties: Symbolizes serenity and peace of mind.
Alternative Birthstone: Sapphire

Eye Up Some Emeralds

It is strange to think that emeralds were once prescribed for eye conditions due to the soothing green colour.  Early stone cutters kept emeralds at their tables to gaze upon as a way to give their eyes a break. Even 21st Century colour specialists agree that green is soothing, restful, and relaxing for the eyes.

Today's versatile emeralds continue to be "easy on the eyes," used in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other body adornment.

An emerald shines like green lightning, filling us with the same wonder as the civilizations that came before us. Ancient Egyptians mined emeralds in the eastern desert region 2,000 years before Cleopatra’s birth, yet today recent finds in North Carolina may provide a new source for quality emeralds in the U.S. Colombia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia are where most emeralds are mined in the 21st Century.

May's birthstone seems perfectly suited to the rites of Spring, matching the colours of the season with its own bottomless green.  Egyptians engraved emeralds alongside symbols of spring representing eternal youth, also burying these gems with their dead.  Elsewhere in the ancient world, Romans believed emeralds brought fertility and rebirth each spring.  It is said that Nero watched  gladiators through emerald glasses.

The Incas worshiped emeralds…as long as they could. In the 1500's, they were invaded by Spanish Conquistadors who stole their gemstones and pillaged their mines. As a result, many of the world's most magnificent emeralds were lost at the bottom of the sea inside shipwrecked Spanish galleons.

Green Mineral Beryl

The word "emerald" is a variation of the Greek word "smaragdos," which means "green stone"…perfectly appropriate for a gemstone that is, in fact, the green variety of the mineral beryl. Emeralds range from strong bluish-green to green hues, although some emeralds have a slightly yellowish green. If the hue is too yellow…or too blue…it loses its "emerald" status and is simply a different variety of beryl.

Colombian emeralds are generally agreed to be among the most beautiful gemstones in the world, with a grass-green colouring highlighted by a touch of blue.