| Man has valued the beautiful green hues of | | | | had ever seen before. The Spaniards spent years |
| emerald gems since the earliest days of history, in | | | | searching for the source of the fantastic green |
| fact emerald is one of the most highly prized of | | | | stones favored by the Incas. They found it finally |
| all the gems. The name comes from the Greek | | | | in what is today Colombia: Chivor, also known as |
| "smaragdos" which means green stone. Emerald | | | | Somondoco or "God of the green gems," then |
| has been treasured for at least 4,000 years by | | | | later Muzo and Cosquez, the richest emerald |
| different cultures all around the world. | | | | mines in the planet and still the source of the |
| Cleopatra prized her emeralds more than any | | | | finest stones today. |
| other gem. She may have dropped her pearls in | | | | Today, emeralds from Colombia are easier to |
| her wine for Mark Anthony but she kept her | | | | obtain: they are as close as the nearest jewelry |
| emeralds for herself! The ancient emerald mines | | | | store. They are prized for a vivid saturated green |
| of Cleopatra, long a mystery, were discovered | | | | like a lawn of new grass after a rain. This color is |
| again a hundred years ago near the Red Sea. | | | | so prized that visible inclusions are accepted in |
| Some tools found in the mine were dated at 1650 | | | | these emeralds in return for the incomparable |
| B.C. but no quality emeralds were found: the | | | | color. |
| mines were exhausted thousands of years ago. | | | | When choosing an emerald, the most important |
| The Romans also loved emeralds because, as | | | | value factors to consider are color and clarity. The |
| ancient scholar Pliny said, "nothing greens greener." | | | | more vivid the green, the more valuable the |
| Pliny said that emerald was the only gem which | | | | emerald. There are also attractive bright stones |
| delighted the eye without fatiguing it. He said his | | | | with a lighter green color that often make a |
| eyes were restored when gazing at emerald. The | | | | spectacular piece of jewelry. Darker green |
| Moguls of India, including Shah Jahan, the builder of | | | | emeralds may also make up in rich color what |
| the Taj Mahal, loved emeralds so much they | | | | they lose in brightness. |
| inscribed them with sacred text and wore them | | | | Because emeralds are so rare without inclusions, |
| as talismans. Some of these sacred stones, called | | | | some inclusions are expected. However, you |
| Mogul emeralds, can still be seen in museums and | | | | should look to make sure that fissures and |
| collections today. Emerald is the birthstone for | | | | inclusions do not go too deep into the stone so |
| May, the month of springtime romance, and the | | | | that it might be weakened enough to break if it |
| anniversary gemstone for the twentieth year of | | | | were hit accidentally. The fissures and fractures |
| marriage, the perfect emblem of an enduring love. | | | | that are characteristic of emerald are traditionally |
| Emeralds are often characterized by a garden of | | | | filled with oil to minimize their impact. You should |
| inclusions of veils of tiny bubbles and other types | | | | avoid cleaning emerald with hot soapy water or |
| of minerals trapped within the stone. Under | | | | steam and never clean an emerald in an ultrasonic |
| magnification, you will see all sorts of lovely | | | | cleaner because this oil could be removed or |
| patterns resembling foliage in a garden. The | | | | damaged, making the fissures more visible. |
| inclusions are like a fingerprint, giving each emerald | | | | A flawless, clear emerald is very rare and is |
| a distinct personality. The extreme rarity of | | | | usually found in only small sizes. Small to medium |
| transparent emerald is why the finest quality | | | | sized stones are often faceted in the "step" or |
| emeralds can be more valuable than diamonds. | | | | emerald cut. The gem is also lovely when cut into |
| Emerald's rich green color is caused by minute | | | | a cabochon or dome shape. Sometimes emeralds |
| traces of chromium or vanadium. Chromium is the | | | | are even carved. Emerald is the accepted |
| rare Midas element of gemstones: its presence | | | | birthstone for the month of May. It is also the |
| also gives rubies their fiery redness. Crystals of | | | | anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th |
| emerald grew long before human history in | | | | years of marriage. As a part of the normal |
| metamorphic rocks, which usually restricts the | | | | cutting and polishing process, most emeralds are |
| size of emerald crystals, making them very rare | | | | immersed in colorless oil to fill voids, but it is |
| in large sizes. | | | | required that jewelers disclose this to any buyers. |
| Ancient emeralds were taken from mines in | | | | Care should be taken to protect emeralds from |
| Egypt, Austria and perhaps what is now | | | | scratches, sharp blows, household chemicals, and |
| Afghanistan. When the Spaniards arrived on the | | | | extreme temperature changes. Do not clean |
| continent of South America, they were stunned | | | | emeralds in home ultrasonic cleaning machines, as |
| to see emeralds finer and larger than any they | | | | there is a potential for damage. |