Signs of Spring are certainly appearing
everywhere- with all the fresh green about it is appropriate that the
birthstone for May is a green stone; Emerald. Unlike Diamond (April’s
birthstone) Emeralds only come in one colour – green. Their depth of colour
will vary as fine Emeralds owe their stunning, vibrant green colour to the
presence of chromium and vanadium. Emeralds are rarely flawless and most have
inclusions known as a “garden” so that every stone is slightly different. A
flawless bright green Emerald is worth more in carat weight than some diamonds.
To reduce the ‘waste’ while cutting a good Emerald- they are often cut into
step cuts also know as Emerald cuts.
The folklore surrounding Emeralds is wide and
varied; with some people believing that it would help their clairvoyance
readings. The traditional view is that Emeralds can be worn to promote healing
and contentment, making us, here at Gatwards, think again of Spring sunshine,
especially after the Bank Holiday Weekend (wasn’t it lovely?!).
Emeralds come from the same family as
Aquamarines- they are a part of the Beryl family, so like Aquamarines they have
a hardness of 7 ½ on the Mohs scale. Emeralds should be treated with care as
they are not as hard as Diamond, Ruby or Sapphire and can chip relatively
easily. Most Emeralds are oiled to enhance their clarity and for this reason
should never be subjected to ultrasonic cleaning or harsh chemicals as this
could strip away the oil.
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