Emerald: characteristics and curiosities

We have already learned about the history and characteristics of the ruby: this time we will focus on the emerald, a very important precious stone with an intense green color, much loved by Cleopatra and the protagonist of a troubled love story that reminds us of a Shakespearean drama... are you ready to discover everything about the emerald?

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The name and the history

A Greek name, this time, for the precious stone with an intense green color. The name 'emerald' derives from the Greek σμάραγδος ( smaragdos) and means ''green gem''. Many scholars, however, believe that the true origin of the name would be izmargad , a Semitic term that would mean ''green stone''.

Its history dates back to Ancient Egypt , where emerald mines in the southeastern region were active as early as 3500 BC. Cleopatra , the last queen of Egypt, is known for her deep love for emeralds. Not only did she wear beautiful jewelry set with emeralds, but she also had the custom of giving her dignitaries an emerald with her image engraved on it, as a sign of homage. For the Egyptians, the emerald was truly a national symbol.
The emerald was already considered a powerful talisman for fertility, immortality, rejuvenation and spring.

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How it's made

Emerald is a variety of beryl , characterized by an intense green color. Beryl, literally "blue-green stone", is considered the mother of gems, for its highly prized varieties. The intense green color of emerald comes from traces of chromium, vanadium and iron , whose concentrations within the stone determine its extraordinary range of shades. Emeralds exist from pastel green to dark green, with various bluish, brown, greyish or yellowish shades.

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Emerald variety

Colombian Emerald is synonymous with superior quality, highly sought after on the market, but difficult to find. This type of Emerald fascinates the entire world with its bright green fire and extraordinary crystal clarity. Zambia has the second largest emerald deposit in the world. Other deposits are found in Afghanistan, Brazil, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Nova Era Emerald is mined from the Brazilian mine of Minas Gerais and closely resembles Colombian Emerald for its classic beauty with shades that change from pale to more intense green. Trapiche Emeralds are crystals with thin fibrous inclusions of dark carbon, which expand from a naturally formed central hexagon. Another variety is mined in the Rural Mountains of Russia, where the specimens are distinguished by their clarity and a bluish green color.

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Its characteristics

As we said before, the presence of chromium, vanadium and iron significantly influence the shade of green of the emerald. The most valuable emeralds are undoubtedly those that have a deeper and more intense shade . The transparency and clarity of the stone is another characteristic that indicates its value. Many stones are treated through heat treatment , a heat treatment, to improve these aspects.

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Some little curiosities

In Buddhism , the emerald is considered one of the seven treasures and is equated with wisdom. It is also considered by many to be the stone linked to the month of May . In Colombia, the main current source of emeralds, there is a relic, called Lettuce , with 1486 emeralds set in it, considered the best examples in the world. The relic was made in 1700 and has been guarded by Colombian Jesuits ever since.

Also in Colombia, there are two examples of emeralds called Tena and Fura : their birth would derive from the troubled love story between, precisely, Tena and Fura, belonging to two families fighting each other. The legend of the two lovers reminds us very much of that of Romeo and Juliet, celebrated by Shakespeare. The young Tena, after having secretly fallen in love with Fura, committed suicide: Fura's tears, fallen to the ground as soon as she discovered the death of her lover, would have produced wonderful green stones.

Emerald is also the only gem that gives its name to a color : the so-called emerald green. This is the story of one of the most beautiful and beloved stones in the world. Emerald, a symbol of hope and youth, is definitely one of the most precious gems!