May:
Emerald
How would you like to wear a gemstone that could protect
you from illness and let you see into the future? According
to ancient belief, an emerald could do just that. Regardless
of these legendary attributes, however, few would deny the
pleasure and delight of owning May's mesmerizing green birthstone.
Since approximately 2000 B.C., emeralds have been prized
by connoisseurs and sought after by the rich and powerful.
They were mined near the Red Sea during the time of Cleopatra,
who wore her emeralds lavishly. Sixteenth-century Spanish
explorers in South America were amazed to find magnificent
emeralds in the possession of the Aztecs and Incas.
The source for many of these stones was Colombia, whose
emeralds were regarded by experts as the ultimate in quality
and color. In fact, the world's largest emerald crystal,
at 7,052 carats, was discovered in 1969 in the Cruces Mines
in Gachala, Colombia. Although this country remains the
world's largest supplier of the fascinating green gem, many
exceptional emeralds on the market today come from Zambia,
Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Brazil.
When buying an emerald, the most important factor is color;
the more vivid the green, the more valuable the stone. Don't
be put off by a few fissures, or inclusions, in your stone,
experts advise. It is rare to find an emerald without these
natural birthmarks, and they do not detract from the stone's
beauty or value as they might with another type of stone.
However, these fissures do affect an emerald's care.
For thousands of years, gem dealers have sought to purify
the color of their inclusions by immersing them in clear
oils or paraffin. In addition to these ancient methods,
clear resins are often used today to enhance the clarity
of emeralds. Using hot water, steam, chemicals, ammonia
or an ultrasonic cleaner could remove oils or resins and
damage the stone.
Emeralds will remain beautiful and durable for years if
taken care of properly. Do what the experts advise: Avoid
abrupt temperature changes and contact with rough or sharp
surfaces, including those of other gemstones. Store your
emeralds in a fabric-lined jewelry box or wrap them in a
soft cloth or tissue. To ensure a long and safe life, have
your jeweler check the setting at least once a year and
clean the stone at that time.
Designers of emerald jewelry use a wide variety of different
cuts. For example, you can choose from the traditional rectangular
step-cut, known as the "emerald cut," as well
as a variety of rounds, ovals, squares, marquises or round-top
cabochons. The choice of cut is a personal one and does
not affect the stone's value.
While there is no official alternate choice for May's birthstone,
those seeking a different stone could choose one with an
equally vivid shade of green. These include tsavorite garnet,
green tourmaline or the less-known, but equally beautiful
chrome diopside.
Whether the emerald actually has the power to heal maladies
or improve vision as some ancient peoples believed, few
can resist its universal beauty. Regarded as one of the
rarest and most precious gemstones in the world, a verdant
green emerald set into a ring or pendant can bring years
of pleasure to the lucky owner.
Styles
