Diamonds are timeless, sapphires are sleek, and rubies are red-hot–but emeralds? Emeralds are the lush, vibrant green gemstone defining the trends this summer. And since emeralds are the birthstone for May, we figured there was no better time to give you all the juicy details on this stunning stone. In this blog, we’ll talk about the history and lore behind the emerald, their mystique and meaning, how to choose the right emerald for you and how to style the emerald jewelry you’ll be dying to buy once you finish reading this blog!
Chic for Centuries: The History of Emeralds
Like most gemstones, emeralds have a long and fascinating history. Gemologists and historians have deemed emeralds to be part of the “Big Four,” a group of gemstones renowned for their rich pasts and outsized impacts on art and culture. The other members of the Big Four are diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.
Emeralds have been coveted since ancient times. Cleopatra famously cherished her emeralds, in part because she believed, along with many Ancient Egyptians, in their healing powers. They believed that emeralds represented youth, rebirth, fertility and vitality. They were also thought to cure eye problems, a long-lasting myth about emeralds. In an ironic twist, geologists and historians now believe that many of Cleopatra’s emeralds weren’t actually emeralds, but a different green gemstone: peridot!
The Inca people, who inhabited what is now Peru, had an especially deep appreciation for emeralds. They traded for emeralds with other nearby peoples, many of whom mined these gems from the surrounding mountains. They believed that emeralds had the ability to promote crop growth and prevent drought, leading to successful harvests. Incan nobles and royalty wore emerald jewelry to distinguish their status. Unfortunately, when Spanish explorers arrived on Incan land, they stole many of their emerald treasures.
Today, emeralds are largely mined in Colombia, Zambia, and Brazil, where there are especially large deposits in the state of Minas Gerais. And about that eye health myth–interestingly, there may be some scientific basis to this belief! Certain cool-toned colors can have a calming effect on the eye. While they can’t cure serious ailments like glaucoma or infections like pink eye, they can be soothing for tired eyes. So the next time your eyes are dry from too much screen time, gaze at some beautiful emerald jewelry to give them a well deserved break!
Why Are Emeralds So Special?
Emeralds have long held a unique mystique, and that goes beyond the myths about their restorative powers. Over the years, they have come to symbolize wisdom, loyalty, and new beginnings. They were once a common gift from a man to the woman he loved, thanks to their association with strong bonds.
Emeralds are also unique in that they always have inclusions. While some gems, like diamonds, can form without inclusions, emeralds form under more complex geological conditions. As they form, they are exposed to many gases, minerals, and sediments that form inclusions. While many of these inclusions are too small to be seen with the naked eye, it’s still interesting to know that each emerald’s inclusions are completely unique. Much like snowflakes, no two emeralds are alike.
Another cool fact about emeralds is that they were one of the first gems to be lab grown. Like lab grown diamonds, they are typically less expensive than natural emeralds. However, they also have the same drawback as lab diamonds, which is that they do not hold their value the way that a natural gemstone would. But, ultimately, the choice of whether or not to buy lab or natural emeralds is completely up to you–they’ll be beautiful no matter what.
Choosing The Right Emerald
You may already be familiar with the “Four Cs” of diamonds: color, cut, clarity, and carat. These four factors help determine the appearance, quality, and price of a diamond. But did you know that emeralds are also judged by the same Four Cs?
Of course, while the categories are the same, the judgement criteria are a bit different. While diamonds are more valuable the less color they have, emeralds are more valuable the more color they have. Emeralds with deep, vibrant, summery green hues fetch the highest prices on the market. That’s not to say that lighter or less vivid emeralds aren’t beautiful, just that they don’t hold the same monetary value.
Diamonds are judged very strictly when it comes to clarity. Any inclusions are considered a knock against the diamond’s quality. It’s a bit different with emeralds since, as we mentioned before, they all have inclusions. Of course, the presence and severity of their inclusions ranges widely. Since a totally flawless emerald doesn’t really exist, their inclusions are judged with more leniency. The most valuable emeralds will have inclusions so miniscule that you won’t be able to see them with the naked eye.
While diamonds are cut to maximize their sparkle, emeralds are cut mostly to highlight their color. The most common cut for an emerald is, unsurprisingly, the emerald cut. This style of cut is called a “step cut” and features large, parallel, open facets that emphasize the color of the emerald and have an almost glassy effect. Emeralds can also be brilliant cut, and may be found in round or oval shapes. Other shapes are rarer for emeralds, partially because emeralds can be tricky to cut.
As with diamonds and all other colored gemstones, larger carat sizes are pricier. It’s rarer to find and mine large emeralds of jewelry quality, and that rarity is reflected in their price.
How to Style Emerald Jewelry
Everyday Looks
Just as you have your classic diamond staples, you can find simple emerald studs, understated emerald necklaces, emerald bracelets--including emerald tennis bracelets--minimalist emerald rings, and more. These simple, streamlined pieces offer the versatility and timeless attractiveness of diamond staple pieces, but with the fun, bold twist of a colored gemstone. Wear emeralds with your neutrals to add a cute, chic splash of color. Go monochrome by pairing emerald accessories with a green outfit, and you’ll be sure to turn heads!
Style Statements
Emeralds have become popular accessories among celebrities and style icons. You can incorporate flashy emerald statement pieces into your wardrobe, too! Consider larger emerald pendants, dangling emerald earrings or cocktail rings, including Art Deco-style emerald rings with multiple stones. Pieces that combine emeralds and diamonds are especially visually powerful due to the contrast between green and white.
Go Green For The Summer With Emeralds From Noe’s Jewelry in Kansas City, Missouri!
Did this article give you some summer jewelry inspo? We certainly hope so! There are so many ways to wear emeralds, all of them stunning. These vibrant green stones are full of sweet symbolism and lush beauty, and they deserve a place in your summer jewelry rotation.
When it’s time to shop for your own emerald jewelry, we hope you’ll visit us here at Noe’s Jewelry in Raymore, Missouri. We’ve been serving the greater Kansas City area for over 25 years now, and we’d love to use our jewelry expertise to help deck you out for the summer! You can also explore our emerald jewelry collection online.