May Birthstone: The Emerald
May babies rejoice as your birthstone is the captivating emerald. With its striking yet soothing green hues, there is no gemstone more perfect for spring than the emerald. If you are looking to learn more about May’s birthstone the emerald, join us as we explore the history of emeralds, explain where they come from, their symbolism and showcase our favorite emerald jewelry.
The History of the Emerald
May’s birthstone, the emerald, has a long history of being celebrated for their beauty and mysticism. In Ancient Egypt, emeralds were mined as early as 330 B.C. Egyptians used emeralds in their jewelry, as symbols of protection and during burial rituals so that the deceased could find eternal life. Cleopatra adored emeralds and claimed ownership of all emerald mines in Egypt during her reign.
The Romans and the Greeks associated emeralds with the goddess of love, Venus and Aphrodite respectively. As emeralds were used to soothe tired eyes, the Roman emperor Nero watched gladiator fights through a large emerald to stay calm. The Moguls of India inscribed emeralds with religious texts that they wore as talismans.
Emeralds were prized by the Incas and Aztecs who used the stone in jewelry and for religious ceremonies. The Incas worshipped a goddess who appeared as an emerald the size of an ostrich egg whose daughters were smaller emeralds. When the Spanish invaded South America in the 1500s, they understood the potential of the emerald which they traded across the world to be used in jewelry for Royals and the wealthy.
Where Do Emeralds Come From?
Today, emeralds can be found all over the world, with Colombia as the largest producer of this gemstone. Emerald’s color can appear in a range of faint to vivid greens, with its value increasing with the richness of the color. There is a limited amount of natural high-quality emeralds on the market, making synthetic emeralds a popular choice. Most emeralds have imperfections, known as inclusions or “jardin” (French for garden), as these inclusions look like branches. A popular treatment for emeralds is to coat them with natural oils to fill inclusions which seeps into the gemstone with great heat and pressure.
Famous Emeralds
There have been countless magnificent emeralds across history. Here are some of the most awe-inspiring:
- Elizabeth Taylor received a set of breathtaking Bulgari emerald jewelry from her husband Richard Burton while she was filming the movie Cleopatra in Italy. She received a necklace, ring, broach, bracelet and set of earrings which were sold at auction in 2011 for an outstanding $115.9 million.
- First Lady Jackie Kennedy received a Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring which held a 2.84 ct. emerald and 2.88 diamond from John F. Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy’s engagement ring quickly sparked a trend of emerald and mixed gemstone engagement rings among brides-to-be.
- For the 2009 Academy Awards, Angelina Jolie wore 115 ct. emerald drop earrings designed by Lorraine Schwartz and a 65 ct. emerald ring which cost a total of $2.5 million.
- Prominent opera singer, Anna Case, received an outstanding 169.97 ct. emerald necklace designed by Cartier from her husband Clarence Mackay as a wedding gift in 1931. After the necklace was donated to the Smithsonian in 1984, this piece became known as the Mackay necklace.
- The Duke of Devonshire emerald is the largest uncut emerald which weighs 1,383.93 ct.
- The Chalk Emerald is a 37.8 ct. emerald set on a platinum and gold Harry Winston ring, surrounded by 60 pear cut diamonds weighing a total of 15 ct.
- The Moghul Emerald is a 217.8 ct. square shaped emerald inscribed with Arabic script and floral carvings dating back to 1695. This talisman sold at auction in 2001 for $2.2 million.
- Princess Katharina Henckle von Donnersmark owned a magnificent emerald and diamond tiara composed of 11 pear cut emeralds. This tiara sold at auction for $12.7 million in 2011.
- The Rockefeller 18.04 ct. emerald was originally set in a brooch owned by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. Following her death, one of her children had the emerald set in a captivating platinum ring with diamonds.
Emeralds: Symbolism
Throughout history, emeralds have been believed to possess mystical powers. In ancient times, people thought that emeralds could cure illness, sooth weary minds and promote fertility. Furthermore, people would place emeralds under their tongues to see into the future.
Today, emeralds are still imbued with great symbolism including:
- Passion
- Faithfulness
- Youth
- Foresight
- Faithfulness
- Peace
- Security
- Rebirth
- Good fortune
Emerald jewelry makes the perfect birthday gift for anyone born in May. Whether you wear emeralds for their rich, earthy colors or to derive strength from it, there is an abundance of emerald jewelry to select from. At myGemma we carry a wide assortment of emerald and gemstone jewelry at fantastic prices. May babies can celebrate their birth month with gorgeous emerald jewelry from all of their favorite brands, including Tiffany & Co., Bulgari and David Yurman, at up to 80% off retail prices.
As an A+ BBB accredited seller of pre-owned luxury jewelry, you can always feel confident when shopping at myGemma. Our designer jewelry has all been authenticated by our team of experts. Enjoy outstanding savings, easy monthly payments through our partner Affirm, free US shipping and 14-day return policy.
