|
by Julie Lee of Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC.
May's
birthstone and the traditional stone for a twentieth wedding anniversary is
Emerald.
Emerald has one of the longest histories of all gemstones.
The first known emerald mines were in southern Egypt and were operated from
before 1000BC into the 1700's. This is a testament to the high value people have
placed on emeralds for many centuries as the work was hard and dangerous and the
stones small and poor by today's standards.
To the ancient Egyptians, emerald's green stood for
fertility and rebirth. In many cultures emeralds were used to treat eye
diseases, and until the eighteenth century, European gem engravers kept emeralds
to look at when their eyes tired. They were also used as an antidote for poisons
and to prevent epilepsy in children.
People once believed that holding an emerald under your
tongue would let you see the future. Others thought that wearing one would
strengthen your memory, make you more eloquent, help you avoid evil spells, and
reveal the truth of your lover's statement.
The world has seen some very large emerald crystals. The
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History has a 1,965-carat crystal, ranging
from about 200 carats to 1,796 carats, is in the Banco de la Republica in Bogota,
Colombia.
THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
In contrast to other beryl gemstones, emerald is typically
heavily flawed with cracks and inclusions of fluid and minerals. These
inclusions are called "jardin" (or garden) as they typically resemble leaves and
branches. These characteristics are not looked upon as negative aspects for
emerald as they would be for other gemstones. Indeed, these inclusions are
considered part of the character of the stone and are used to assure the
purchaser that the stone is genuine.
Faceted emeralds used in jewelry generally range from melee
sizes up to about four carats, but they can be much lager. Remarkable gems
include a 136 carat step cut stone at the Diamond Fund in Moscow and a 117 carat
stone at the Smithsonian Institution.
One of the most spectacular pieces of emerald set jewelry
is the Crown of the Andes, carved from a block of pure gold in 1593 for a statue
of the Virgin Mary. Now part of a private collection, it is set with 453 stones,
including the 45-carat Atahualpa emerad, totaling 1,521 carats.
SELECTION
We offer emeralds in a variety of shapes, sizes, and color
hues. Four qualities of genuine emerald are available to you including
diamond-cut rounds and cabochon cuts. A new shape recently added to our
selection is the modified square. Also, Chatham lab grown emeralds are available
in A, Fine, and Gem qualities.
Currently offered in our genuine emerald line are stones
cut from rough. We also have an inventory of larger single stones and the
ability to source your special order emerald needs. For all your emerald and
gemstone needs please call your Gemstone Special Order Consultant and place your
order today.
Julie Lee is a web designer and founder of
Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC. Julie's Jewels is a
Texas based retail jewelry company specializing in high quality, affordable
jewelry pieces created to be treasured for a lifetime.
If anyone would like to republish the above article, please
email me your request and where it will reside, and I'll send you a
short bio you can use with it for your site.
| 
