Forever Emeralds

Many birthday celebrants are commonly seen wearing emerald jewelry because emerald is the birthstone of May. There are some studies that link the discovery of the emerald with the Incas and the Aztecs. The emerald was a very treasured gem to their culture because it was believed that it had magical powers. The Aztecs and the Incas handcrafted beautiful jewelry out of the gemstone that they considered very holy. Another theory is that the emerald was first mined in Egypt. They were allegedly discovered near the red sea. The Egyptians believed in the magical powers that the emerald brought. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian icon, was thought to have a beautiful collection of emerald jewelry.

The Symbolism Behind Emeralds

Regardless of where the emerald came from, it is still a treasured gemstone with rich symbolism. It is considered as the sacred stone of Venus or Aphrodite. It has long been the symbol of love, hope, and prophecy. Anyone who wears the gemstone, be it an emerald pendant or ring, can rely on its powers in soothing a baffled mind. Emerald jewelry is also known for bringing wisdom, reason, and healing to the mind. Some cultures believed that if you place an emerald in a jug of water overnight and pour the water on the eyes the next day, it would heal any eye ailment. Harmony, wisdom, love, reason, and prophecy all of these were believed to be the powers of emerald.

Not the whole world believes in its magical powers but it would be safe to say that any jewelry made of emerald is considered a luxurious and valuable item. Emerald jewelry is part of the big three gemstones, alongside ruby and sapphire. An emerald engagement ring is considered an alternative to a diamond engagement ring. Emeralds come in different shades, from pale green to dark, vivid green. The dark emerald is more valuable than the pale green emerald, even if the dark emerald has inclusions.

The Emerald Cut and Criteria's for Choosing the Right Emerald Jewelry

Handling emeralds is not easy, even for the experienced jewelers. That's why the emerald cut was developed, because there had to be a way for the brittle emerald to withstand the pressure in jewelry making. Jewelers use oil and resin to conceal inclusions. Even so, the gemstone remains to be fragile. That's why treated emeralds shouldn't be cleaned with soap or an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

Emerald is judged according to three criteria: clarity, color, and treatments. As said earlier, the emerald with the highest value is the dark and vivid green. Second, the emerald with a high value is one that doesn't have fissures and inclusions visible to the naked human eye. Third, an emerald that has been treated is worth less than an untouched emerald. Overall, emerald is really prone to have inclusions and fissures because it's a brittle gemstone. However, the emerald that's clear will be valuable than the one with a milky hue.

Emerald jewelry is a statement of fine taste and class. Diamonds are still very popular among jewelers but anyone who can choose emerald with fine quality proves to anyone that he or she has extensive jewelry knowledge. If you're looking for an emerald pendant, always look into the color, clarity, and treatment.