Lush emerald green has soothed the soul and stimulated the imagination since ancient times. The name of the stone comes from the Greek word meaning green, “smaragdus.” The Roman Pliny the Elder described the emerald in his work Natural History, published in the first century AD: “…there is nothing in the world greener than the color of emeralds,” was his verdict. He described the use of emeralds by early physicians, who “have no better method to restore eyesight than looking at an emerald; its soft, green color comforts and removes fatigue and weariness.” Even today, the color green is known for easing stress and eye fatigue. The first records concerning the extraction of emeralds and their use in jewelry come from the beginnings of the Roman Empire. They refer to stones mined in Egypt in 330 BC.
The formation of emeralds, or the geological miracle
Emerald (Be3Al2Si6O18) is the best-known variety of beryl – a mineral which occurs extremely rarely in nature. Pure beryl has a white or grayish color; this mineral takes on a green color due to chromium impurities, and more rarely vanadium, elements as rare as beryllium (Be). However, chromium and vanadium elements belong to completely different geochemical environments and under normal conditions should not occur together! Their meeting is indeed a miracle of nature, as a result of which the emerald was formed.
Structure of emerald
Emeralds are not only exceptional in their color but also in the natural arrangement of inclusions. The French called these visible impurities “le jardin,” meaning gardens, which describe the mossy, vine-like lines passing through the stone. Emeralds, like diamonds, are valued based on the 4C principle, which includes color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. However, unlike diamonds, inclusions in emeralds do not affect their market value; nevertheless, large emerald specimens, almost free of impurities (extremely rare occurrences), fetch exorbitantly high prices at auctions, especially if they have magnificent saturation and depth of color.
Emerald in the beliefs of ancient civilizations
Legends of many civilizations endowed the person wearing an emerald with the ability to predict the future. A mineral placed under the tongue gave the power to discover the truth, protection against evil spells, and also made a person an eloquent speaker.
A legend in the Hebrew tradition states that the emerald was one of the four precious stones given by God to King Solomon. These four stones were said to grant the king dominion over all creation. The Egyptians, who considered emeralds the jewels of the goddess Isis, believed that these stones could cure all diseases, and the green color of the mineral symbolized fertility and rebirth.For this reason, emeralds were placed in the throat of the mummy to ensure its protection during the journey to the underworld and to guarantee rebirth in the afterlife. An exceptional collection of emeralds could be claimed by the queen of ancient Egypt, Cleopatra – she owned emerald mines in Egypt, claiming ownership of every stone extracted. After her death, the mines were taken over by the Romans. They continued mining until the 6th century AD.In India, emeralds were venerated so much that sacred texts were inscribed on them and they were worn as talismans by the elite, including Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal. The Incas also used emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies, paying homage to their beauty. Emeralds from Colombian mines were used by the inhabitants of Mexico, Peru, and Chile as early as around 1000 AD, but it was only when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World that their conquest contributed to the discovery in the territory of present-day Colombia of the most beautiful emeralds known today, which the Spanish later brought by ship to Europe and Asia.
Emeralds today
Today, the rarest and most valuable emerald specimens come from Muzo, Chivor, and Coscuez, mines located at the foot of the Colombian Andes. Deposits of stones are also known in Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Australia, India, Austria, and Mozambique.
Currently, the emerald is a symbol of loyalty, new beginnings, peace, and safety; this symbolism additionally ennobles jewelry adorned with this beautiful mineral. If you love gemstones, the color green, and unique jewelry pieces, the ideal solution for you will be custom gold jewelry. Contact our jewelry designer and give yourself or your loved ones an extraordinary gift.