Cleopatra’s Emerald

Cleopatra cuts no lone figure among the celebrated list of royalty who showed off their personal collection of emerald jewelry. Cleopatra reportedly adorned herself and her palace chambers with emerald jewelry and even gifted them to foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. However, it is believed that Cleopatra intended this more as a display of her power and wealth rather than to strengthen international ties.

Mystical Talismans

For centuries, people and cultures around the world believed emerald jewelry could be used as talismans because of mystical powers. Many people wore emerald jewelry as they believed it would confer wealth and power when worn on their body. These gems were also believed to strengthen memory an sharpen one’s wit. However, it’s most valuable power was bestowing its wearer with the ability to see into the future.

In the past eras, the Spanish, Arabs and Hindus believed that emerald jewelry could be used to cure dysentery, infection, poison and even protection against possession by demons.

To Soothe Vision

Emerald’s soothing green hue was believed to relieve fatigue from tired eyes. A number of gem cutters around the world kept emeralds on their benches. After long hours of close work with other gemstones, gem cutters would relieve stress from their eyes by looking at emerald jewelry.

Revealer of Truths

In the medieval times, emerald jewelry was held in high regard as a revealer of truths. People believed emerald jewelry could cut through spells and illusions. Many wore emeralds around their necks or held them in a small pouch that they carried everywhere to protect them from curses and evil eyes.

Offering to the Gods

Avant-Garde Navaratna Studs

In the past, practising Hindus believed that offering emerald jewelry to the gods would invoke rewards and blessings from Lord Krishna. Hindu teachings also associate emerald jewelry with the planet Mercury, which has given rise to the Navaratna setting.

Western tradition, on the other hand, associates emerald jewelry with the planet, Venus. This is possibly influenced by Greek and Roman mythology where the Goddess Aphrodite or Venus emerges from the sea. As a result, western mythology matches the sea-green colour of the emerald with the Roman goddess’ namesake planet.

The Wealth of Cities

During the Age of Exploration or the Age of Discovery which lasted between the 15th and 17th centuries, there were several ancient myths and tales surrounding precious stones in India, emeralds being one of them. Europeans were keen to find the mysterious and legendary land that was believed to have enormous wealth. Wealth where entire walls and temples were covered in emerald jewelry and other precious gemstones. As history would have it, once these stories spread across Europe, several countries dispatched ships to discover the New World.

The Breastplate of Aaron

Many scholars continue to debate whether the breastplate of Aaron does include emeralds as described in the Book of Exodus. However, over the centuries, with different versions of the text being produced in multiple languages, the names of gemstones have been applied a lot more broadly and liberally than what gemologists would today. For instance, ancients used the term saphirus to describe any blue stone, but the breastplate is also believed to be adorned by sapphires. Similarly, emeralds could have been present on the breastplate or could be any green stone.

Other Myths Surrounding Emerald Jewelry

There are several other myths and legends surrounding the lush green gem. Embalmers in Egypt would bury royalty with emerald jewelry to grant them eternal youth in the afterlife. Many cultures use emeralds for protection while on long journeys. The belief was that anyone in possession of emerald jewelry would receive God’s protection.

Doctors and healers considered the stone to hold healing powers, both physical and mystical. It was believed to relive one of depression and insomnia and cure heart, kidney, lymph node and backbone related issues.

We hope this journey through the ages with emerald jewelry has inspired you to by some of your own. Head to Gehna today and immerse yourself in the vivid beauty of the emerald. Be sure to check out our blog on elegant emerald jewelry for a Taurus woman.

View Our Emerald Jewellery Collection: Emerald Jewellery | Emerald Jhumki | Emerald Nosepins | Emerald Earrings | Silver Emerald Jewellery 

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The sweltering month of May is upon us with all the wrath of the sun in its folds with emerald stone. Maybe we can distract you from the scorching heat with a little insight on gemstones by the month of birth. And what better month to start with than the one that currently torments us!

May borns are understood to be resolute, yet understanding. Their enthusiasm and physical attractiveness make them quite irresistible. As charming as these May-borns are, they always claim the attention of everybody around them. It is no wonder then, that the birthstone of those born in May, is the regal Emerald stone.

Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, coloured green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. Most Emeralds are highly included, so their toughness is classified as generally poor. And yet, the rarity of finding a beautiful emerald in rich hues makes it a gemstone dearer than all, but diamonds.

Vivacious Emerald and Gold Earrings

The word “Emerald” is derived from the Latin Esmaralda/Esmaraldus, a variant of Latin Smaragdus, meaning green. Emeralds in antiquity have been mined in Egypt since 1500 BCE, and India and Austria since at least the 14th century CE. Colombia is by far the world’s largest producer of Emeralds, constituting 50–95% of the world production. Rare ‘trapiche’ Emeralds are found in Colombia, distinguished by a six-pointed radial pattern made of ray-like spokes of dark carbon impurities. Zambia is the world’s second-biggest producer, with its Kafubu River area deposits.

Glamorous Emerald Jhumki

In general, while grading coloured gemstones, colour is the most important criterion. However, in the case of Emeralds, clarity is considered a close second, and both colour and clarity are necessary conditions. A fine emerald must possess not only a pure verdant green hue but also a high degree of transparency to be considered a top gem. Emeralds tend to have numerous inclusions and surface breaking fissures. Unlike diamond, where the loupe standard, or a 10× magnification, is used to grade clarity, Emerald is graded by eye. If an emerald has no visible inclusions to the eye, it is considered flawless. It is important to note that now jewellers across the world have embraced paler hues with enthusiasm, the uncommonness of the colours in jewellery being a large motivation to do so.

Emeralds that lack surface breaking fissures are extremely rare and therefore almost all Emeralds are treated to enhance the apparent clarity. The inclusions and fissures within an Emerald are sometimes described as “Jardin” (French for ‘garden’), because of their mossy appearance. These imperfections within the stone are unique to each emerald and can be used to identify a particular stone and make Emeralds more likely than other gemstones to be cut into cabochons, rather than faceted shapes. Faceted Emeralds are most commonly given the Oval cut, or the signature Emerald cut, a rectangular cut with facets around the top edge.

Green is the colour of fertility and prosperity. In the western world, as the gem of Venus, the Emerald was considered to aid in fertility. Cleopatra, Egypt’s tempestuous female monarch was as famous for wearing Emeralds in her time as Liz Taylor is for wearing diamonds in our time. Ancient Egyptian mummies were often buried with an Emerald carved with the symbol of verdure– flourishing greenness–on their necks to symbolize eternal youth.

In India, the Emerald is considered the gemstone of planet Mercury. In Hindu mythology, Mercury is the son of the Lord of Love and is a manifestation of Wisdom and Words. However, the planet is also known for its dual nature and as shrewd and astute are those born under the sign of Mercury, those afflicted by the negative effects of the planet may suffer memory loss, inadequate reasoning power, speech defects, lack of concentration, and/or insomnia. The Emerald is believed to shield its wearer from these ill effects of the largely benefic planet. It is believed to harness the positive energy of the planet to its wearer and bring him/her confidence. Mercury also symbolizes younger siblings, in particular, sisters, and the Emerald is therefore believed to nourish the bond between siblings. To reap the astrological benefits of any gemstone, it is recommended that the stone remains in close contact with the skin, as it would in an open set ring or pendant.

The Emerald has been an integral part of quintessential Indian jewellery. Temple Jewellery of South India uses the green hues to brilliantly contrast the rubicund shades of rubies, while Kundan and Moghul Jewellery showcase the Emerald in all its glory. Stones of higher caratage are now being used in conjunction with diamonds for added splendour.

Whether it wards off the ill effects of Mercury, or to aid fertility, or maybe just because you need Emeralds to coordinate with your favourite outfit, we, at Gehna, understand and respect every need. Visit us, or contact us to design your Emerald masterpiece. Talk to us about what other gemstones you would like to enhance the beauty of your precious Emeralds. Brainstorm with our designers on how you can make your emerald sing the green song and wear the perfect handcrafted piece with pride.

If you liked reading our blog on exquisite emeralds, you may also be interested to explore more about our article on Legends and Lore Surrounding Emerald Jewelry & Elegant Emerald Jewellery for a Taurus Woman.

Shop our Emerald Collection – Emerald Jewelry | Emerald Jhumki | Emerald Nosepin | Emerald Earring

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