Interesting Facts About the Emerald Gemstone

If you are looking for a gorgeous green gemstone, an emerald is the perfect choice. Many jewelers design with emerald gemstones not only because of it's beauty, but rarity and its birthstone popularity. To better understand an emerald gemstone let's take a look at the history behind the colorful gem, an emeralds meaning, the stones formation and the gemstones color options. 

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Argentium® Silver Emerald & Yellow Sapphire Ring 
Handmade by Jewelry Artist Lisa Ramos

1. The earliest discovery of the emerald gemstone dates back to 330 BCE in Egypt.
2. The formation of an emerald takes from millions to hundreds of millions of years.
3. An emeralds mineral makeup is a variety of a mineral beryl, a colored green by trace amounts of chromium or vanadium.
4. An emerald is both the modern and tradition birthstone for the month of May. More about  Birthstone colors & meanings.
5. It is difficult to find a flawless emerald. Most emeralds contain inclusions, often referred to as "jardin".
6. One of the largest uncut emeralds is the "Duke of Devonshire Emerald”. It weighs 1,383.93 carats and is currently displayed at the Natural History Museum in London.
7. Emeralds can display secondary hues of blue and yellow undertones.
8. Emeralds are not typically heat-treated due to their inherent fragility and the presence of numerous inclusions. The emerald gemstone is more susceptible to damage from high temperatures. The more common emerald enhancement method is called fracture filling - using oils or resins to improve their clarity and stability.
9. An emerald is the gemstone for the 20th and 35th anniversary. More about anniversary jewelry. 
   
10. An emerald is a precious gemstone followed by a diamond, sapphire and ruby.
11. Emerald gemstones are rated a 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale which defines a gemstones durability based on a scale called the Mohs hardness scale. 
12. The average cost of a one carat emerald is $1,637. The value of an emerald is measured by the " Four Cs" of gemstone grading standing for color, clarity, cut, and carat.
13. Emeralds are found in Columbia, Brazil and Zambia. Columbia is the leading source of emeralds, accounting for over 50% of the global production.
14. Emeralds are associated with Love, Loyalty, and Devotion. An emeralds color is known for Growth, Renewal and Rebirth. Also, emeralds have been long associated with Wisdom, Clarity, and Communication. 
15. To clean emeralds, use warm water and mild soap. Always avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. Also, steer clear of cleaning products with ammonia or alcohol. Only soak emeralds for a few minutes and pat dry carefully.