Emerald

Take good care…

Emeralds are brittle stones and we advise that they are not worn everyday.  To clean, place your emerald in a bowl of warm soapy water and rub very gently with a toothbrush.   Avoid cleaning your emerald in hot water or steam as this could damage the stone.

Try to avoid…

Emeralds are delicate gemstones due to their numerous inclusions and should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner which would remove or damage the oil or resin and make fissures more visible.  Emeralds, especially those with many inclusions should be treated with extra care and be protected from bangs and blows which may cause the stone to shatter. Protect your emerald jewellery by storing it carefully when it’s not being used, preferably in the original box it came in or in a soft, lint-free pouch – to avoid scratching and rubbing.  Always store your emerald away from harder gems, such as diamonds, to prevent unnecessary damage.

About your stone…

Emeralds are rare gems and are almost always found with inclusions.  It is expected that emeralds will have inclusions, those without are extremely rare and command a very impressive value.  Fissures are usually filled with oil or resin to make them less visible to the eye and to enhance the look and life of the emerald.  Columbia is the largest producer of emeralds however Brazil and Zambia have good resources.  Emeralds vary in characteristics depending on where they are mined with Brazilian stones having the strongest colours, Zambian stones being renowned for crystalline appearance and Columbian stones having the best overall reputation for quality.

Emeralds are often cut in a rectangular shape which has now been given the name ‘the emerald cut’ regardless of gemstone used.

Pearls of wisdom…

The emerald has a long history dating back to ancient Egypt when mummies were often buried with emeralds around their necks as the greenness of the stone was said to symbolize eternal youth.  The Incas had an emerald goddess presented as an amazing emerald the size of an ostrich egg.  The moguls of India used to inscribe emeralds with sacred text and where them as protective talismans. Emeralds, the gem of Venus, have long been associated with fertility, love and rebirth.

Emerald is the birthstone for May.