Are you a May baby looking for your May birthstone: Emerald? Emerald is a stunning green gemstone that has many incredible properties and a history unlike any other. At LaTerra Gems, we love emerald and everything about it. Read on to learn more about the May birthstone.
What Is Emerald
Emerald birthstone is a gorgeous green gemstone mineral that gets its color from trace amounts of chromium and vanadium within the stone. The gemstone emerald is a variant of the mineral beryl, which has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale. This is in comparison to diamonds which have a 10 on the Mohs scale. Gemstones are a soft mineral, meaning that their resistance to breakage is generally poor, but nonetheless it is a highly sought after and cherished gemstone.
Gemstones can be found on some of the most iconic and beautiful pieces of jewelry thanks to their deep green color. Most notably, the Chalk Emerald, a 37.8 carat emerald, sits in the Smithsonian museum and is considered one of the finest emeralds in the world.
Where Are Emerald Birthstones Found?
While gemstones can be found in emerald mines around the world, some of the finest emeralds come from the South American country of Colombia. Colombia has been the gold-standard of emerald mines for over 500 years and is famed for producing dark colored, high quality emeralds. Within Colombia, there are three famous emerald mines located in the mining towns of Coscuez, Chivor, and Muzo. Each of these mines produces different colored emeralds that vary from light green to deep green but all are considered to be high quality gemstones. Find Your Birthstone
Meaning and Healing Properties of Emerald
Emeralds have been cherished gemstones for centuries because they are believed to possess properties that promote healing, wellness, and favorable outcomes in situations. Most notably, emerald gemstones and crystals have been associated with promoting inspiration, unity, compassion, and even love of the highest order. These are properties that make emeralds an excellent choice for a gift to a person who you want to enjoy positive energies. Emeralds have also been associated with prosperity, good fortune, and good health.
Historically in medieval times, it was thought that emeralds could keep illness away and make the wearer healthy and well. Though these stories of emeralds being magic are just old tales, wearing emerald still makes people feel better about their chances of avoiding illness. Today, wearing emerald can make a person feel like they have all of the fortune in the world around hanging from their jewelry.
LaTerra Gems, Gemstones and Crystals
LaTerra Gems is the best place to find stunning emerald gemstones and the best selection of gemstone jewelry, art, and home decor. If you are looking for your May birthstone: Emerald or any other healing crystals and gemstones, shop LaTerra Gems. With so many options to choose from, there is no better place to find high quality stones to bring into your life.