The May Birthstone - Emerald
Emerald is the birthstone for May, known for its deep green colour. It is said to bring renewed life force, good health, and success in new ventures for those born in the spring.
It is thought that this gemstone was assigned to be the birthstone of May as it resembles the season of spring. The green glow of an emerald is reminiscent of the flora of a typical blossoming springtime.
For over 5000 years, emeralds have been one of the world's most desirable and valuable coloured gemstones. As the world’s premier green stone, its hue has stunned in many pieces of value throughout history. It is one of the oldest known precious gems which is still in use today.
The earliest known emerald mines were in Egypt. Egyptians originally believe that emeralds were the source of eternal life, fertility, rebirth and love. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emeralds and used them in her royal adornments. In Ancient Rome and Greece, the gemstone was dedicated to Venus, the goddess of hope and love.
Emerald mines can be found throughout the world, particularly in South America. Emeralds are created from a rare combination of natural chemicals under the surface of the earth. The emerald stone has a hardness of 7.5 to 8.0 on the Mohs hardness scale.
They are scratch-resistant and durable, however since most emeralds have inclusions when mined, they are vulnerable to damages from prolonged and daily wear. While they might not be as strong as diamonds, emeralds in their optimal transparency and shade can exceed diamonds in their per-carat value.
Emeralds have many healing properties. They are known as the gemstone of successful love, enhancing unconditional love and promoting strong friendship. Emeralds are said to spark the heart chakra, which has a healing effect on the emotions as well as the physical heart.
Emeralds enhance psychic abilities, stimulate the use of greater mental capacity and open clairvoyance. They help to incite activity and focus for your actions. They strengthen memories and input clarity into thoughts.
Not only does emerald impress with its vibrant and deep colour, it has beautiful history and meanings attached to it. We always recommend choosing a gemstone that you feel a connection to despite what your birthstone is. Browse our collection of emerald jewellery and other gemstone jewellery below.