Emerald is the green variety of the mineral Beryl, of which Aquamarine is also a variety. Emerald is the symbol of faith, kindness and goodness, and its color reflects new spring growth.

In ancient times those who wore the green to bluish-green stone were believed to be endowed with the power to reveal the faithfulness of their beloved. It was said in Roman times that gazing upon the stone would refresh and restore eyesight. Emerald is also the gemstone for the twentieth and thirty-fifth wedding anniversaries.

It was known that Emerald was a favorite gem of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, who used it in her royal adornments -  and the Emerald mine in Upper Egypt, rediscovered a hundred years ago near the Red Sea, was one of the earliest Emerald occurrences in the human history. The emerald pictured above is considered the largest in the world.

Emeralds also adorned Russian crown jewels. The Irani State Treasure contains an exquisite collection of Emeralds, as well as the Emerald tiara of ex-Empress Farah. Shah Jahan, one of the moguls of India that built the Taj Mahal, loved Emeralds so much that he had sacred texts inscribed into them and used these gemstones as talismans. The ancient writings of Veda, the sacred text of Hinduism, testifies to Emerald as being the “gem of good luck” and the “gem that improves one’s well-being”. These “Mogul Emeralds”, as they are known today, can be found in modern museums and collections.

Many of the finest Emeralds nowadays come from Columbia and Brazil.

Although the hardness of Emerald is 7.5 on the Mohs scale, many Emeralds can be quite fragile due to internal fracture. Emeralds should never be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner. For cleaning, use a warm soapy water solution and an old toothbrush.