Precious Stones -The Big Five: Part 1, The Emerald

The emerald is probably the most rare of all precious stones and is considered by some to be even more valuable than the diamond. Compared with other precious stones the emerald in its occurrence in nature is unique, for it is found in the rock in which it was formed. Unlike diamonds, sapphires and rubies, it never occurs in gem gravels. The earliest known locality where emeralds were found was in Upper Egypt near the coast of the Red Sea. The best stones, however, are found in Columbia, South America. Fine specimens have also been found in the United States in North Carolina.

While the usual shade of color seen in emeralds is alluded to as emerald green, there are other shades, such as grass green, sea green and green slightly tinged with yellow. The shades most highly valued are those of an intense fresh green sometimes compared with that seen in a meadow in spring.

Beryl is a mineral known to gem lovers under several different names, the most valued of which is the Emerald. The mineral beryl composing the various gems is practically the same in composition, hardness, and other properties, and the gems may be differentiated only by their color. In composition beryl is a silicate of aluminum and glucinum. On the scale of hardness beryl is graded 7 ½ to 8, and is thus much softer than the diamond, ruby, or sapphire. It is owing to this fact that the emerald scratches easily and that care must be taken that when worn it is not subject to chafing by diamonds or other harder gems.

Beryl as a mineral is of quite common occurrence, and the crystals of the mineral in its cruder form often grow to enormous size. There is one such single crystal preserved in the Boston Museum of Natural History, which is three and one half feet long and three feet wide and weighs several tons.

Beryl in this common form occurs in many localities, but the mineral in its rarer form of emerald is comparatively of very rare occurrence. The emerald or green beryl, as it should be scientifically known, has long been the most highly prized of the green gems. In brilliancy it exceeds all other green gems excepting only the very rare green sapphire. The most valuable specimens exhibit a vivid grass-green shade, and it is to this color that they owe their great value. Other considerations, such as freedom from imperfections, are quite secondary in determining the value of the stone. In fact a perfect emerald is almost never found, and this circumstance has passed into an Eastern simile which runs, "As scarce as a perfect emerald," this being a symbol for the acme of rarity. The emerald is light in weight and an emerald of a given size will be about a third larger than a diamond and forty-five per cent larger than a sapphire of equal weight. The distinctive color of the emerald is probably due to a trace of chromium in its composition.

Fine emeralds are generally cut cushion shape with step cutting, and in the East are often cut cabochon. Fine emeralds have advanced very rapidly during the last few years, both on account of the growing demand of fashion for the gems and the scarcity of really fine specimens.

Many curious legends of gigantic emeralds have been handed down to us, principally culled from the narratives of early travelers, who thought every transparent green stone they saw to be an emerald.

The ancients valued the emerald highly, not alone for its beauty, but for its supposed occult properties and its marvelous power of healing all diseases of the eye-they also believed that if the eyes of a serpent met the gleam of the emerald, it immediately became blind. Moore alludes to this superstition in the lines:

Blinded like serpents when they gaze
Upon the emerald's virgin blaze.

The Emperor Nero, who was shortsighted, had an eye-glass formed of an emerald, through which he gazed and gloated over the cruel sports of the arena.

Many interesting stories are told of the first emeralds taken by the early conquerors of Peru to Spain, and a certain Joseph D' Acosta is said to have returned to Spain in 1587 with two chests of emeralds, each of which weighed over one hundred pounds. The truth of this story may be questioned, but it is a fact that the stones were highly prized and much used by the Incas and Aztecs in the extraordinary civilization which once existed in Peru. The emerald was highly prized by the ancients and by gem lovers of the middle ages, and this accounts for many interesting legends and superstitions relating to the gem.

As for today, the emerald is still very highly valued as one of the most precious stones. The emerald is May's birthstone and is a favorite stone for fine jewelry craftsmen throughout the world.

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

---

What is Y Ddraig Goch - the Welsh Red Dragon?

The red Dragon was introduced to Britain during Roman times.... Read More

Game Theory - What Do Game Theory and Improv Theater Have in Common?

"Game" TheoryThis article was inspired by Mick Napier's book ?Improvise:... Read More

Gymnastics Olympic Champions From 1988-2004

Here are the men's and women's all-around champions from the... Read More

Unguided Men

Humanity - the sole endeavor of sanctity in every man,... Read More

Carly Patterson: What Makes A Champion?

If you have been following gymnastics for any length of... Read More

Elvis Presley, Lifting Off

He seems to live forever. A network television movie about... Read More

Those Dirty Mexicans--Oh, Really?

When my wife and I announced that we were moving... Read More

Garnet is Januarys Birthstone

If you're still young enough to remember your birthday, you... Read More

How I lost A million Dollars In A Bank Robbery

The Million dollars was my life-savings earmarked for prime the... Read More

She Wrote the Book on Fakin It

She brought the guitar into vogue. She created the first... Read More

Synchronized Swimming, Dolphin Cognition and Visualization

As humans become more technologically advanced and are able to... Read More

A Look at the Heart of American Beauty

Sam Mendes' darkly comic portrayal of suburbia in his first... Read More

Bewitching Jewelry -- Amulets, Talismans and Charms

Throughout the ages, men and women have used gemstones and... Read More

Troubadours

CHRETIEN DE TROYES:Academics will freely admit that this man was... Read More

Understanding Astrological Predictions

Opinions about astrological prediction are generally divided: "Mysterious! Magical!", say... Read More

Merton Abbey Mills Developments

For those who don't know, Merton Abbey Mills is an... Read More

How Many Chinese Characters Are There?

Let's trace the number of Chinese characters from Han Dynasty... Read More

Heraldry in the Crafts--Why Not Specialize?

I have a small website where I try to sell... Read More

Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest

Native American Indian art in the American southwest is dominated... Read More

How to Clean Your Civil War Uniform

How necessary is cleaning your Civil War Uniform?The every day... Read More

Dreaming of Love and Peace

She dreams of touring Europe and the US to sing... Read More

The Different Styles of Inuit Sculptures

At first, all Inuit soapstone sculptures from the Arctic may... Read More

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: - It seems a mystery to most academics... Read More

Chinese Tattoos - Meaning of Chinese Dragon Tattoos

Chinese Tattoos have always been hugely popular. At one stage... Read More

Export/Import of Inuit Eskimo Art Sculpture Containing Whalebone or Ivory

The export of certain Inuit sculpture from Canada to other... Read More

Top 10 Questions about Body Piercing

Body piercing has grown so much in popularity in recent... Read More

Learn How to Solve Problems With a Feng Shui Mirror

A mirror, when becoming a feng shui mirror, can be... Read More

Rules of Noble Succession

Let me first say that the rules of noble succession,... Read More

Shakespeare and Human Nature

Isn't it peculiar how human nature evolves through environmental and... Read More

Civil War Uniform Shirts ? When to Use a One and Two Piece Body!

So, you want to make your own Civil War shirt.... Read More

Ludlow Festival

His plays and adaptations have been performed in many countries... Read More

Art, Women, and Creativity

Women have been given the greatest gift of creativity there... Read More

Cosmic Cow

The cow is a mother to mankind whom we should... Read More