About Emerald
One of the most beautiful women in history, Cleopatra, had a love affair with these precious gemstones - a testament to the allure of emeralds. Emeralds are the most precious and highly celebrated of gemstones. These gems come in many hues of green and bluish green, but emeralds are best known for their lush green color. The green color of this gemstone is so intensely vivid that an emerald is one of the few gemstones to have a color named after it - Emerald Green. Pliny the Elder, a writer from the ancient times eulogized the emerald in just 3 words that speak volumes, "Nothing greens greener", he wrote.
Emerald gets its name from the Greek word - "smarados" which is further derived from the French word "esmeralde", all of which essentially stand for the color green. One of the most ancient gemstones known to mankind, the emerald has been treasured for at least 4,000 years by different cultures the world over. The ancient scriptures of the Hindu Religion, the Vedas, eulogized these precious gems for their mental and physical healing properties. In Islamic religion, emeralds are sanctified. The Islamic texts talk of heaven's garden as carpeted with emeralds, and the famous 'Mogul Emerald' weighing in at a gargantuan 217.8 carats, has prayer texts inscribed on one side and floral engravings on the other. In ancient Egypt, mummies were buried with an emerald around their neck as an emblem of eternal youth. According to the Catholic Church, green is the most intrinsic of liturgical colors. Emeralds were highly cherished by royals of the ancient times, not only Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, but Shah Jahan, the emperor of the Mogul Empire, Emperor Jahangir of the Mogul Empire, and Empress Farah of Iran, to name a few.
In the ancient times, emeralds were believed to possess healing powers. The vivid green color of emerald epitomizes life, verdure and springtime, when life blooms. This lively color has also been associated with endurance and constancy in love. In the ancient Roman times, the color green was associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
Emerald is the birthstone for those born in May and the zodiac sign Taurus. Emerald is anniversary gift for the 20th and the 35th wedding anniversary.
Emerald gets its name from the Greek word - "smarados" which is further derived from the French word "esmeralde", all of which essentially stand for the color green. One of the most ancient gemstones known to mankind, the emerald has been treasured for at least 4,000 years by different cultures the world over. The ancient scriptures of the Hindu Religion, the Vedas, eulogized these precious gems for their mental and physical healing properties. In Islamic religion, emeralds are sanctified. The Islamic texts talk of heaven's garden as carpeted with emeralds, and the famous 'Mogul Emerald' weighing in at a gargantuan 217.8 carats, has prayer texts inscribed on one side and floral engravings on the other. In ancient Egypt, mummies were buried with an emerald around their neck as an emblem of eternal youth. According to the Catholic Church, green is the most intrinsic of liturgical colors. Emeralds were highly cherished by royals of the ancient times, not only Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, but Shah Jahan, the emperor of the Mogul Empire, Emperor Jahangir of the Mogul Empire, and Empress Farah of Iran, to name a few.
In the ancient times, emeralds were believed to possess healing powers. The vivid green color of emerald epitomizes life, verdure and springtime, when life blooms. This lively color has also been associated with endurance and constancy in love. In the ancient Roman times, the color green was associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
Emerald is the birthstone for those born in May and the zodiac sign Taurus. Emerald is anniversary gift for the 20th and the 35th wedding anniversary.
Genesis of Emerald
In the ancient times, emeralds were mined in Egypt, Austria and present-day Afghanistan. Later Colombia became one of the most popular sources of fine emeralds. These gems from Colombia are celebrated and prized for their shiny, vivid green color which is unadulterated by any blue tint. The famous Colombian mines Muzo and Chivor have been a popular source of emeralds since the pre-Columbian times, almost 5 centuries ago, when the Spanish explorers first arrived on the American continent. The rare Trapiche emeralds that have six rays emanating from the centre are also from Colombia.
Other origins of fine emeralds include Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia. The African nations Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil in particular have a good reputation for fine emeralds. The stones from Zambia are particularly famous for the beautiful, deep emerald green color with good transparency. The color of these gems is darker than the Colombian gems, and often has a fine, blue undertone. The stones from Zimbabwe have an intense green color with a delicate yellowish-green hue. The gems from Brazil are only next to the much celebrated Colombian greens. Brazil also mothers some rare emeralds such as emerald cat's eyes and the star emerald with a six spoke star.
Other origins of fine emeralds include Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Russia. The African nations Zambia, Zimbabwe and Brazil in particular have a good reputation for fine emeralds. The stones from Zambia are particularly famous for the beautiful, deep emerald green color with good transparency. The color of these gems is darker than the Colombian gems, and often has a fine, blue undertone. The stones from Zimbabwe have an intense green color with a delicate yellowish-green hue. The gems from Brazil are only next to the much celebrated Colombian greens. Brazil also mothers some rare emeralds such as emerald cat's eyes and the star emerald with a six spoke star.
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- Preesha Preesha Jul 29, 2008 @ 1:19 am
- Great information! The history of emeralds is very fascinating. With its regal past and mesmerizing color, emerald sure stands to be the king of gems.
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- Ramlal Jarwal Ramlal Jarwal Jul 29, 2008 @ 12:38 am
- Emerald gemstone is very beautiful stone
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- jitendra susawat jitendra susawat Jul 28, 2008 @ 8:58 am
- This is very useful knowledge about Emerals.
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- Rajesh Rajesh Jul 26, 2008 @ 5:43 am
- Hi,
I think it has good information about Emerald.
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