Emerald

May Birthstone

 

Emeralds have been considered a gem by many different civilizations dating back to nearly 4000 years agao. This green stone was popular among the Egytians and it is said that Cleoptra fancied them enought to start her own personal collection. The name was derived from the Greek word smaragdos meaning "green stone." Believed by the ancients to empower the wearer with insight into the future, the Emerald symbolizes youth, rebirth, and immortality. In astrology, Taurus gains loyalty and improves memory if in the presence of an emerald.

Emeralds are mined thoughout the world in Columbia, Brazil, and Zambia. Once mined, they can be cut into many differnt designs: the rectangle cut also know as "emerald-cut", round, oval, and squares. Emerald are rarely found to be "flawless". Nearly all of them contain some if not many birthmarks that distinguish them from other gemstones. Early merchants in India found differnt ways to clerify the beautiful colors of the Emerald by dipping them in oils. Today we use more modern techniques such as isolating the fissures in the stone and injecting a clear resine into them. Then a hardening agent is added to harden the resine, and you are left with an emerald that appears to have no flaws what so ever.