Jewel of the month: Emerald

With its vibrant green hue, the emerald has captivated cultures around the globe for over 6,000 years. Its name was first translated from Sanskrit as marakata, meaning the green of growing things. Embodying the lush color of Spring, the emerald has long been associated with renewal and rebirth. The earliest known emerald mine is located in the mountain valley of Wadi Sikait in Egypt's Eastern Desert, where mining began in the first century BC.  Egyptian mummies were buried with emeralds thought to ensure eternal youth, and Queen Cleopatra gave foreign dignities emeralds carved in her likeness.  Ancient Greeks associated the stone with Venus, the goddess of love, and used emeralds to protect lovers from unfaithfulness and to aid in fertility.  Today, an emerald is a popular gift for May birthdays and the traditional gift for the 20th, 35th, and 55th wedding anniversaries.

These precious green gems have long been popular with A-listers and celebrities.  Among the most famous emeralds are Jackie Kennedy’s stunning 2.88 carat emerald engagement ring and Elizabeth Taylor’s expansive Bulgari emerald collection worth nearly $100 million.  Angelina Jolie started today’s emerald trend when she wore a pair of 115-carat Lorraine Schwartz emerald teardrop earrings and a 65-carat emerald ring at the 2009 Oscars.  Since then, A-listers such as Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Debra Messing regularly sport emerald-hued jewels on the Red Carpet.

Emerald is a member of the beryl family, and its color is caused by the presence of chromium, vanadium, and iron.  The finest emeralds exhibit an intensely saturated bluish-green shade and are generally from Columbian mines, where geological conditions produce higher concentrations of iron. On a per carat basis, emeralds are up to three times as valuable as diamonds, and unlike with diamonds, inclusions in emeralds can add to their allure.

Stop by the Carats Fine Jewelry & Watches showroom to browse our beautiful selection of emerald jewelry.  Whether celebrating a May birthday, an anniversary, or a new beginning, an emerald is a perfect choice for the occasion!