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Emeralds are a glorious green colour and a member of the beryl family. The presence of chromium in beryl is what classifies a gemstone as an emerald and the amounts of other impurities such as iron will affect the exact shade. They are one of the most valuable stones in nature but are very brittle indeed. A flawless stone is a very rare occurrence as its brittle nature means that most stones are included.

They were first mined in Egypt at Cleopatra’s mine several thousand years ago, treasured then and now for their colour. Nowadays, emeralds are found all over the world including Australia and Columbia

These gemstones have a hardness of around 7 out of 10 (10 being the hardest stone, diamond).

Thought should be given when choosing this for your engagement ring as their brittleness means that they can easily chip or even crack. We don’t recommend that you use emeralds but occasionally will set one securely in platinum for a customer who has really considered their brittleness.

These lovely gemstones are said to bring luck to its wearer during the month of May and symbolizes serenity and peace of mind. It is not only the birthstone for May but also the anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th years of marriage. Some people believe wearing an emerald brings wisdom, growth and patience. It is perhaps this last attribute that may explain why a gift of emerald for an anniversary and is also a symbol of love and sincerity.

The word ’emerald’ is a variation of the Greek word ‘smaragdos’ which means ‘green stone’ – perfectly appropriate for a gemstone that is, in fact, the green variety of the mineral beryl.