Emeralds Birthstone
Emeralds are in a class by themselves and are one of the highly prized stones in the family of precious stones of which the others are diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Being the May birthstone, emeralds are a part of the beryl family of minerals and it is believed that the green of this gemstone occurs when clear beryl contains vanadium or chromium. Of all the emeralds found in the world, the Colombian Emerald which is a spectacular grass green in color is said to be one of the most beautiful of stones and is tinged with a hint of blue. Other countries that produce quality emeralds are South Africa, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Russia among others.
As you know, almost all birthstones are known to have their own legends and folklore attached to them and the emerald is no different. It’s known to quicken the process of healing while improving ones love life, and those who wear emeralds are said to be clairvoyant. Fact or myth, one has to acknowledge that it is such lore which has enhanced the value of these gemstones because we humans always find it difficult to resist these tales and often wonder if there could be some truth in them. This is mostly because of the fascinating history attached to these legends such as the Egyptians who wore them because they were said to have great healing properties and even the common man believed that by wearing emeralds it was possible to cure many diseases.
It is said that the May birthstone used to be prescribed during ancient times for diseases of the eye since the color green is said to soothe the eyes. Even today, color specialists consider green a restful color that is easy on the eyes and this makes it a very popular gemstone to be used in earrings, bracelets, rings and other jewelry as accessories to enhance the beauty of a woman. Being a very rare gem, and not found in abundance, the asking price of an emerald can be even more than that of diamonds and rubies and this in fact could be the reason why this beautiful mystical gemstone is so precious and rare and any woman lucky enough to be presented with emeralds birthstone can consider herself to be very lucky indeed.
Whoever wishes to buy these green gemstones should make sure that they know what they are looking for. The most important aspect in the emerald is its color. The more deep and vivid the color is the more valuable it can be considered, even if it has a few inclusions. It is extremely rarely that you come across a gemstone that has no fissures or inclusions and if you do find one, make sure that it’s not synthetic because only a man made stone in a laboratory can look utterly perfect whereas most genuine natural emeralds will have slight inclusions in them.
Apart from being the birthstone for those born in the month of May, the emerald is also the zodiac stone for the Constellation of Cancer. Although it is supposed to be a very hard stone, emeralds must be taken care of properly and should be protected from direct blows and prevent being exposed to abrupt changes in temperature. Your precious emeralds should preferably be stored in a fabric lined box to ensure a long life.