Emerald’s green color is very distinctive, but its hues can range anywhere from a yellowish green to a blueish green. The source of the emerald often determines the color. Colombian, Brazilian, and Zambian emeralds colors are based on the elements found in their natural environment. Colombian emeralds get their color primarily from the trace amounts of the element chromium which is responsible for some of the purest greens in gemstones. Brazilian emeralds get their color primarily from trace amounts of the element vanadium and Zambian emeralds get their color from iron. Emeralds are the May birthstone and used to celebrate the 20th & 35th wedding anniversary.

Emerald is derived from a Persian word meaning “green gem”. It changed from Greek to Latin as “smaragdus”, then to “esmaurde”, “esmralde”, and in the 16th century to “esmeralde”. Emeralds were first found in Egypt, in 330 BC, which led to the discovery of a major emerald mine. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald and used it in her iconic royal embellishments. Emeralds were highly prized by the Incas and Aztecs when discovered in Colombia. In the sixteenth century, violence became part of the emerald’s history when Spanish conquistadors looted thousands of emeralds from the mines in South America. From that time on, royalty in many different countries looked to South America for a supply of the beautiful green emerald gemstones to adorn their jewelry and crowns. Emerald the sacred stone of the goddess Venus and of the Earth Goddess. It is believed to have life and aid in growth and increased agricultural production. According to ancient folklore, putting an emerald under your tongue would help one see into the future.