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Emerald
 Emerald
is the birthstone of May & anniversary gemstone for the
20th and 35th years of marriage.
Emerald - gem of eternal spring. We all are fascinated by emeraild's
rich history, lore and tradition. Emeralds have been cherished
for as long as there has been a written history. Archaeologists
have traced the origins of the use of emerald to almost 3000
B.C. in both ancient Egypt and India.
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Cleopatra prized her emeralds more than any
other gem.
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The Romans also loved emeralds because, as
ancient scholar Pliny said, "nothing greens greener."
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The Moguls of India loved emeralds so much
they inscribed them with sacred text and wore them as talismans.
Whatever your reasons, you may be feeling
somewhat intimidated by emerald's reputation as an expensive gemstone Well,
here's an interesting fact. A very respectable emerald can be purchased for
a few hundred dollars per carat - thereby making emeralds affordable for
practically every one's budget.
Why do prices vary so widely and
what constitutes a good emerald?
What we're talking about are differences in the quality of the emeralds.
First, a small definition of emeralds: This King of greens is a variety of
the mineral
beryl.
It must be primarily green, though it can be modified by small amounts of
yellow or blue. Some definitions go further, demanding that beryls only be
called emeralds if they are green and colored primarily by chromium. If they
are not green enough, they are referred to as green beryls. If the beryls
are blue, they are aquamarines.
Emeralds are
cut in Jaipur, India and Tel-Aviv, Israel as well as in the mining
countries. Emerald is one of the most difficult gemstones to cut because of
the high value of the rough stone and the many inclusions found in crystals.
Small changes in orientation can make a large difference in the final
appearance of the gem. Skilled craftsman who specialize in cutting emerald
can be found in cities around the world for jewelers who insist on having
stones perfected for the optimum brilliance and vibrancy.
Alternate Names for Emerald are, Panna, Markat, Samargdos
(Greek), Tarkshya (Sanskrit), Zamurrad (Persia), Smarlda(Latin),
Esmaurde(Latin).
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