May babies! There are many things out there you might know about your birthstone, Emerald, but we bet there are still things you can learn about the gemstone that represents the month of your birth!
Emeralds are rarer and often more expensive than Diamonds
Diamonds are often the gemstone that people think of when they think of rare and expensive gemstones, but what if we were to tell you that Emerald is in fact one of the rarest gemstones! Emerald is part of the Beryl gem family and is mined all over the world including in places such as Central America, South America and Africa. Even in established Emerald mines the availability of high-quality gemstones and large gemstones is limited!
There is a long history behind the Emerald Gemstones
Having been mined for over 4000 years, the Ancient Egyptians, Romans and even Ancient Legends all have their beliefs about the stone! The Ancient Egyptians considered Emeralds to be a symbol of eternal youth and liked to be buried with them. Romans believed that gazing into them was useful for both relieving stress and eye strain. Ancient Legends believed Emerald would reveal truth, allow you to foresee the future and even protect against evil spells, all so long as it was placed under your tongue!
They aren’t always ‘Emerald Green’
Given their name this one might be a shock, but Emeralds can vary in colour! They can range in colour from deep green to pale green hues. Those that are a deeper green colour however are the most prized and expensive Emeralds. The variety in colour is due to the exact amount of trace elements, chromium, vanadium and iron in the stone!
Traditional gift not just as a birthstone!
Emerald is not just the birthstone for May but is also the traditional gift for those celebrating their 20th and 35th wedding anniversary!
If your celebrating your birthday this month and would like to treat yourself to a bespoke piece including your birthstone, or you might be celebrating your 20th or 35th wedding anniversary, get in touch to begin the journey of creating your very own piece! You even get the opportunity to have a go at the bench and put your own mark on it!