Fun Facts About Emerald: May's Birthstone

May (and its warmer weather) have finally arrived. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about emerald – the beautiful birthstone for this beautiful month!

• Emerald is the birthstone for May, as well as the gemstone of 20th and 35th anniversaries.
• Emeralds are a type of beryl, which is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate. Aquamarine, the birthstone for March, is also in this category. 
• Emeralds rank 7.5 to 8 on Mohs Hardness Scale.
• Legends say that God gave Solomon four precious stones, one of which was believed to be emerald. 
• The emerald was once believed to give the wearer the ability to see the future, reveal truth, and protect against evil spells. It was also thought to help wearers speak more eloquently.
• Some also believed that emeralds could cure diseases such as cholera and malaria.
• In 2011, Elizabeth Taylor’s emerald pendant sold for $6,578,500, which was a per-carat record of $280,000.
• The first known emeralds to be mined were found in Egypt in 330 BC. 
• Cleopatra had a well-known love for emeralds.
• When Spanish explorers invaded the New World in the 1500s, emeralds were part of their plunder.
• Most emeralds today are mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia, although they are found throughout the world. 
• Emeralds are among the most difficult stones to cut. They are brittle and most have significant fractures that make them vulnerable to damage. 
• In addition to the risks of damage, cutters must consider how they can maximize the stone’s hue, tone, and saturation. For example, if the proportions aren’t cut just right, the emerald may appear lighter. Many emeralds are cut into rectangular step cuts called “emerald shapes.”
• Like most gemstones, emeralds come in a variety of carat weights from fractions of a carat to hundreds of carats. An emerald is less dense than a diamond, so a 1-carat emerald will appear larger than a 1-carat diamond.