Mimicking the green of spring, May’s birthstone emerald is one of the world’s few truly “precious” gemstones – a title held only by the emerald, sapphire, ruby, and diamond. In fact, the best emeralds are prized above diamonds. Emerald is the traditional gemstone for the 20th, 35th, and 55th anniversaries, and is also the most popular colored gemstone in engagement rings.
The emerald was originally prized by the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, who believed the god Thoth had bestowed the stone to them as a symbol of spring and had dedicated the gemstone to eternal youth. The brilliant green gem was placed on the throats of mummies to protect the souls of the dead. Emeralds were often carved with the image of the Egyptian goddess Isis and the scarab beetle for good luck. Emerald gemstones were later venerated by the Aztecs as a holy stone in 14th to 16th century Mexico. They were also worn in India as a talisman of good fortune and wellbeing.
According to biblical lore, an emerald fell from Lucifer’s brow when he was thrown out of heaven and was transformed into the Holy Grail. The Greek god Hermes is said to have recorded the laws of magic on a tablet made of pure emerald.
In mysticism and healing, the emerald symbolizes purity, truth, and immortality. The stone was believed to bring good luck and health, to calm the seas for travelers, and to bring vigor and renewal to the aged, the sick, and to despairing souls. The Medieval doctor Paracelsus recommended ground emeralds to be ingested as treatment for certain diseases and fevers, and to balance the heart and mind. Emeralds were worn to protect mothers and infants during childbirth. The emerald is also considered an emblem of nature’s beauty, embraced as a favorite by the Greek goddess.
According to one ancient legend, emeralds are a powerful token of true love and devotion. If lovers are true to one another, the stone will supposedly remain dark and vibrant. If the stone turns pale and lifeless, someone in the relationship has been unfaithful to the other.
Emeralds are found throughout the world: in Brazil, Zambia, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, India, Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, with the finest mined in Colombia, where emeralds have been found in over 150 locations. The most valuable emeralds are those with the darkest color.
Emeralds are the green form of the gemstone beryl, a mineral that appears in several colors. The stone can range from light to dark, from a pale, sea green to a deep, vivid hue. Emeralds sometimes show inclusions, which are called “jardin” by gemstone experts who value these signs of natural growth. A dark emerald with jardin is still more valuable than a clear, flawless stone of a paler color, although both serve as striking embellishments when set in a fine jewelry piece. For a gemstone that’s synonymous with hope and renewal, you simply can’t go wrong with the emerald.
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Gems
GENEVA (Reuters) – A flawless vivid blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats sold Tuesday for a record 10.5 million Swiss francs ($9.49 million), the highest price paid per carat for any gemstone at auction, Sotheby’s said.
The rectangular-shaped blue stone, the rarest to enter the international market this year, went to an anonymous buyer bidding by telephone after hectic bidding see-sawed between two callers for 15 minutes.
It was the centrepiece of its semi-annual sale in Geneva, conducted by David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry department in Europe and the Middle East, who said the results showed the market’s resilience despite the economic downturn.
“This is already a new world record price for a fancy vivid blue diamond and a new world record per carat for any gemstone (at auction),” Bennett told reporters. See full article at reuters.com…
Categories: Diamonds, Gems, News
Today, we know it as an occasion to commemorate Mom with flowers, gifts, and time spent with family on a spring Sunday. Historically, Mother’s Day dates back to the ancient Greeks, who celebrated a springtime festival in the name of Rhea, the mother of the gods. Early Christians in England honored Mary, the mother of Jesus, on the fourth Sunday of Lent – the period leading up to Easter. This day was later changed to pay tribute to all mothers; churchgoers were encouraged to return to the “mother church,” where families would gather to celebrate what they dubbed “Mothering Sunday.”
The American colonists chose not to celebrate Mothering Sunday. Instead, a mother’s day dedicated to peace was organized in 1872 by an American woman named Julia Ward Howe. In 1907, a teacher in Philadelphia by the name of Anna M. Jarvis began campaigning for a national mother’s day. Her efforts were ultimately successful, and in 1914 the second Sunday in May was declared an official holiday: Mother’s Day.
On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the women who brought us into the world. The occasion offers a nationally recognized opportunity to thank Mom for all the work she put into creating, teaching, and raising you by showering her with love, gratitude, and—in most cases—a thoughtful gift.
Flowers are often the most obvious Mother’s Day gift, reflected by the huge spike in business for florists. But unlike flowers, which bloom and then fade, a thoughtfully chosen necklace, a pair of diamond earrings or a stunning gemstone ring commemorates Mom with a token that will last a lifetime and will elicit a treasured memory every time she wears it. According to a national survey by Momentum Research, mothers identified jewelry as one of the gifts they most like to receive on Mother’s Day, a preference that increases for older mothers.
Some of the most popular jewelry pieces for Mother’s Day include gold, silver, and platinum rings. Gemstone rings and pendants add a splash of color to her jewelry collection. For added significance, you can choose a stone that represents her birth month. And nothing beats the exquisite elegance of diamonds—a tasteful diamond tennis bracelet or diamond ring is a classic choice that’s sure to delight Mom. If your wife or mother is especially fashion-savvy, you may want to explore larger and more unusual styles in rings, bracelets, anklets, or necklaces. Bracelets and rings that bear engraved messages are a personal way to say “thank you” on Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is about more than just gifts, but a carefully chosen token can help convey just how much Mom is loved and appreciated. You can’t ever repay a mother for the years of hard work she’s put in raising her children, but the perfect fine jewelry accessory can help you make her day.
Categories: Gems, Jewelry
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