Birthstone Series: Emerald

Birthday celebrations have certainly changed over the past few months. Although large in-person gatherings are currently a thing of the past, you can still mark your special occasion with a memorable gift. The birthstone for May is Emerald, and we have many options available at Jae's Jewelers.

This bright green gemstone is one variety of the Beryl family, which also includes morganite and aquamarine. Emeralds are one of the top 4 most sought-after gemstones along with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, known as “precious” gems.

The hardness of emerald is a 7.5-8 on the Mohs hardness scale, but the “toughness” is rated as poor. Therefore, emeralds are great for earrings and necklaces. When selecting emerald rings and bracelets, well-protected designs allow for regular wear. A design that exposes the stone should be worn with caution, or for special occasions.

Emeralds are known for having more clarity characteristics than most other gemstones as well. These inclusions are known together as a “garden,” and they are more acceptable than inclusions in other gemstone varieties.

In general, the more transparent and bright green an emerald is naturally, the more valuable it becomes. Other factors influencing value include the clarity, carat weight, and country of origin. Colombia is the world’s largest producer, mining over 50% of the world’s annual supply. Zambia is the world’s 2nd largest producer of emeralds.What is it that attracts you to emeralds? What shape is your favorite cut for this gemstone?

Shop our entire emerald collection HERE.