Emerald is the birthstone of May. It is primarily mined today in Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, and Columbia.

Technically, emerald is a kind of beryl. It boasts a chemical formula of Be3Al2(SiO3)6CR and a hardness on the Mohs scale of between 7.5 and 8.0 (less hard than diamond or tourmaline but a pretty tough gem nevertheless!)

May Birthstone - Emerald

Emeralds have been highly prized since antiquity. The Egyptian Empress Cleopatra treasured her emerald possessions more than any of her other jewelry. Lore about the magical powers of emerald abounds. Some believe that the stone has the ability to boost memory, prevent epilepsy, and improve vision. Others contend that emeralds attract love or even provide clairvoyant thinking abilities.

The biggest emerald in the world — at least of gem quality — is over 172 grams and currently resides in the Smithsonian Museum in the nation’s capital.

As a stone, emerald boasts a vitreous luster and fractures concoidally. Even in gem quality stones, it’s possible to often locate impurities and cracks. Many jewelers use an oil solution to obscure such impurities and to clarify stones. This practice has gained widespread use, so even if you buy emerald from a reputable jeweler, you may not be forewarned about it.

The most common color for an emerald is green (of course!), but you can also find blue and yellow emeralds. In general, the dark blue-green stones are more valuable than the lighter yellower stones. But color, clarity, hue, and general aesthetic qualities also play roles in determining a given stone’s value.

In the past few years, many engineers have synthesized emeralds using ultraviolet light, thermal synthesis, and a process called flux growth.

If you’re looking for the perfect emerald gemstone to give to your spouse of 20 years or to your favorite May birthday boy or girl, please browse Celtic Engagement Rings to find high quality stones.