The striking green gemstone that is known to instantly soothe the soul and relax the eye, Emerald is the birthstone of May and the anniversary gem of the 55th Wedding Anniversary.
A variety of Beryl, a mineral species that includes Aquamarine, Emerald gets its name from the Ancient Greek word for green. However, experts tend to disagree on the degree of “green” a gemstone has to be, to be able to claim that it is Emerald. Some claim that if a gemstone is too light, then it is seen as Beryl. Therefore to tell if an Emerald is of the highest quality, it has to be a strong vivid blueish green to green colour.
The first Emerald mines where set up in Ancient Egypt, with Cleopatra having a passion for the gemstone's unique powerful properties. Legend says that the wearer of Emerald will reveal truth and be protected from evil, a prophecy that the gemstone carried with it though each monarchy across the world.
One of the key things to look for in an Emerald in order to gauge its quality is its internal inclusions. Experts will always look for those that have internal inclusions that add character to the gemstone, looking like tiny gardens inside a greenhouse.
Catherine’s love of nature and the beauty of her surroundings often determine the colours of the gemstones used in her jewellery and Emerald is no exception. She loves to use them in yellow and white metals and really enjoys adding diamonds, also in a white metal, to give that added brilliance.
