May Birthstone - Emerald Jewellery
Emerald is the green variety of the gemstone Beryl, coloured by trace amounts of chromium or vanadium. To be considered an emerald it must be medium to dark in tone, if not it is a green beryl. The name Emerald is thought to be derived from the Greek ‘smaragdos’ or the Old French word ‘esmeralde’ meaning ‘emerald’ or ‘green’.
Emeralds rarely are flawless as they typically possess eye visible inclusions or ‘jardin’, aptly named as they resemble plants entrapped in an emerald garden. Subsequently very high quality emeralds can be more expensive than an equivalent quality Diamond.
Emerald is believed to give the wearer a sense of serenity and can bring good health.