It’s Emerald City Time—Celebrating the Emerald, May’s Birthstone

May is the month of rebirth and growth—so it’s very fitting that its birthstone is the emerald. Emeralds are actually a form of beryl, which also gives us the blue-green aquamarine. To make things even more confusing, light green stones are considered to be green beryl. But only the vibrant green emerald is one of the big four gemstones—along with the diamond, sapphire, and ruby.

The gem of the emperors

• Emeralds were Cleopatra’s favorite stone; in ancient Rome, green was symbolic of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love.
• Its name comes from the ancient Greek for “green gem,” smaragdos.
• Romans believed that an emerald could help you see in the future when you placed it under your tongue.
• The main source of emeralds for over 500 years has been Columbia. Zambia and African countries have also developed mines.
• It’s also the gemstone for the 20^th and 35^th wedding anniversaries.

Tips for buying an emerald

Emeralds are often treated to enhance their color, including dyeing, adding oil, and filling surface fractures with wax or resin. This won’t necessarily impact the value of the stone. But it should be disclosed to you. A rich, green, saturated color is very important. There will likely be inclusions—these are natural. (If your stone has no inclusions, it may not be natural.) Synthetic emeralds are often labeled as “created.”

Taking care of your emerald

With a Mohs scale of 7.5 – 8, the emerald is softer than a diamond. The GIA has a few do’s and don’ts for taking care of your emerald jewelry:

• DON’T expose your emeralds to heat, changes in air pressure (such as in an airline cabin), and harsh chemicals.
• DON’T use an ultrasonic cleaner—if the stone is filled, the vibrations and heat can cause the filler to sweat out of fractures.
• DO clean your emeralds by gently scrubbing them with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
• DO be careful when you’re washing dishes or washing up; filled emeralds can be damaged by exposure to hot water.
• Make sure you have adequate insurance—and an updated appraisal—to replace your stone if an “oopsie” occurs.

Enjoy your trip to the “Emerald City” with your beautiful emerald birthstone. And don’t forget to protect your emeralds and all of your precious jewelry and heirlooms. Contact me at 617-304-0174 or at aimee@ambappraisal.com to arrange an appraisal of all your valuables.

Brilliantly yours, Aimee