May Birthstone: All You Need To Know About Emeralds

The emerald has been a coveted gemstone for centuries thanks to its unique and vivid green hue. The vibrant shade is known throughout cultures and around the world for being one of the rarest and most beautiful gemstones—and those people who are born in May are lucky enough to call it their birthstone. 

The Meaning of Emeralds

Even centuries ago, emeralds were a stone that was highly valuable—Cleopatra of ancient Egypt is an iconic historical figure known for her love of emeralds. Throughout history, they have been cherished for their multifaceted meanings and, of course, for their beauty.

Reflective of the bright green that blooms from the earth in the springtime, emeralds are a symbol of optimism and rebirth. The emerald also represents the heart chakra of Hinduism, which has brought about an association with love—making emeralds a popular choice for nontraditional engagement rings.

Emerald Origins

Like all gemstones, emeralds are formed from different minerals that combine and are pressurized deep below the earth’s surface. Emeralds are composed of beryl, a very rare mineral. Because of the rarity of the mineral itself, formed emeralds are the rarest gemstone in the world. The beryl combines with other minerals, including chromium and vanadium, to give emeralds their distinct green color. 

Like all gemstones, emeralds are formed from different minerals that combine and are pressurized deep below the earth’s surface. Emeralds are composed of beryl, a very rare mineral. Because of the rarity of the mineral itself, formed emeralds are the rarest gemstone in the world. The beryl combines with other minerals, including chromium and vanadium, to give emeralds their distinct green color. 

Qualities of Emeralds

Every emerald is green, but the exact hue can range anywhere from a medium green all the way to a dark and saturated shade. Oftentimes, the darker the shade, the more valuable the stone. 

Unlike diamonds or moissanite, emeralds are not as hard, ranking at a 7.5 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. This—along with the frequent internal inclusions in the stones—means that they can sometimes chip or scratch, so they require more care than other, more durable gemstones. Because of this, jewelers sometimes recommend that emeralds be saved for infrequent wear, like special occasions, instead of pieces that are worn every day. 

The 4 Cs of Emeralds

Like diamonds and other gemstones, emeralds are graded on the four Cs: cut, clarity, color, and carat. 

Cut: Emeralds are the only gemstone that has a cut named after it. Emerald-cut emeralds are a very traditional style, and the step-cut helps protect the stone from damage during wear. Emeralds also can be cut into many other shapes, and the cutter typically factors in things like fractures, size, and color into the cut that makes the most sense for each stone to emphasize its beauty. 

Clarity: Unlike diamonds, most emeralds have visible inclusions and imperfections in the stone. Because of this natural quality, emeralds aren’t graded as strictly on clarity as some other stones. They are instead considered “flawless” if no imperfections are visible to the naked eye—these flawless emeralds, however, are extremely rare. Emeralds are often treated to help improve their clarity and durability. 

Color: Color is one of the most important Cs when it comes to emeralds. To be classified as an emerald, a stone must be at least a medium green shade—anything lighter in hue is considered green beryl and is much less valuable. 

Carat: Carat, like with all other gemstones, refers to the weight of the stone. As with most stones, the larger the emerald, often the more valuable it is.

Emerald Jewelry 

Because they are so valued for their beauty, emeralds are set into almost every type of jewelry. From necklaces and earrings to rings and bracelets, emeralds are seen in every style. Though they are sometimes accompanied by other gemstones, and most often diamonds, emeralds are oftentimes found in a solitaire setting that allows their beauty and rarity shine. 

No matter which metal they are set in, emeralds are always exquisite. Many emeralds are set in yellow gold, which lends a more vintage feel to the jewelry. They are also set, however, in white gold and platinum to give a more modern edge to the stone. 

No matter which style you prefer, Finer Jewelry has just the piece for you. Whether you’re looking for a special occasion piece or an item to be worn every day, Finer Jewelry is changing the jewelry-buying process. By offering one-on-one consultations with a team of experts, it makes jewelry more personal and more special. Complete customization is also available, so if you can’t find the piece you’ve been dreaming of, don’t worry. You can create it from scratch with their talented team.

Contact us for help finding your perfect piece of emerald jewelry today.