1. Emeralds are not only the designated birthstone for May, but also the recognized gemstone for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
2. Like aquamarine, emeralds are a member of the beryl group of minerals and are the most valuable gemstone in this family. The green color found in these gemstones comes from small amounts of chromium or vanadium.
3. Emeralds are thought to improve memory, increase eloquence, and quicken intelligence.
4. The oldest emeralds are about 2.97 billion years old and are found in South Africa.
5. Emeralds come in various shades of green. The deeper, more saturated greens are the most valuable. If the color is too light, the gemstone is classified as green beryl, which is a less-expensive version of an emerald.
6. It was once believed that if someone puts an emerald under their tongue, he or she would be able to see into the future.
7. Currently, Columbia is the world’s largest source for emeralds. In fact, more than half of all emerald production occurs in this northern South American country.
8. Emerald gets its name from the Greek word “smaragdus,” via the Old French “esmeralde,” which means green.
9. The color of nature and spring, emeralds are believed to promote a calm and peaceful spirit.
10. Compared to diamonds, emeralds are a relatively soft gemstone ranking in at 7.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Because of this softness, emeralds tend to have inclusions in them called jardins. It is extremely rare to find a natural emerald without any inclusions. Every emerald is unique due to their own inclusion patterns, similar to a human’s fingerprint.
11. An emerald’s green color is said to convey harmony, love of nature, and joy of life.