EMERALD

[em-er-uhld, em-ruhld]

BIRTHSTONE: May

ORIGIN: Today emeralds are found in Africa, South America, and Central Asia. The most sought after emeralds are found in Colombia.

HISTORY: Emerald originated from the Greek word for green, smaragdus. The gemstone was first mined in 330 B.C. in Egypt, becoming Cleopatra's favorite gemstone. It spanned the world, once cherished by Spanish conquistadors, Inca Kings and royal trade throughout the decades and became a legend as one of the four precious stones given by God to King Solomon. The lore of Emeralds tells of the ability to foresee the future when placed under the tongue and its curability of malaria.

FASHION: Emerald is a great gem for everyday wear as it is one of the harder stones on the MOHS scale. Emeralds are beautiful precious gemstones, brilliant in color and prestige. Emeralds are thought to relieve stress, what better prescription than a beautiful emerald around your necklace or adorning your ears. Emerald goes well with most outfits, especially blacks, browns and tans!

FORMATION: Emerald is a form of the stone, beryl, growing as a crystalline mix. Emerald crystals form in hydrothermal veins deep in earth’s crust. Veins are created within the earth when hydrothermal fluids escape from magma. Some emeralds also form within pegmatite deposits.

CLEANING & CARE: Emeralds can easily be cleaned at home using warm soapy water and a soft brush. Ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners should never be used as they may weaken fracture filled stones. 

TREATMENTS: Sometimes filled with oils or wax to enhance the stones green color and clarity.

MOH'S HARDNESS : 7.5 - 8.0 Scratch resistance through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.72 The relation between the density of any substance and the density of water.

REFRACTIVE INDEX:  1.577 - 1.583 The ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in a specified medium.