EMERALD : Basically a green variety of Beryl, not all gem quality green beryl are called Emerald. Emerald is of ancient origin. This is a very rare, radiant, and beautiful gemstone. Stones of fine colour, weighing from 2 carats, are among highly valued gems. Emeralds are fascinating gemstones. They show the most beautiful, deepest and most brilliant green imaginable: Emerald green. Emerald are even more valuable than diamonds.The name Emerald was derived from French "esmeraude” which in turn goes back via Latin to the Greek root "smaragdos”, meaning simply "green gemstone”. There are uncountable adventure stories involving this splendid gemstone. Many centuries ago in the Veda, the ancient sacred writings of Hinduism, there was written down information on the valuable green gemstones and their healing power: ”Emeralds promise good luck”, or ”The Emerald enhances your well-being”. It does not come as a surprise, then, that the treasure chests of Indian Maharajas and Maharanis contained most wonderful Emeralds. One of the largest Emeralds in the world is the "Mogul Emerald”. It goes back to the year 1695, weighs 217.80 carats and is about 10 cm high. One side is inscribed with prayers, on the other side there are engraved opulent flower ornaments. The legendary Emerald was auctioned off at Christie’s of London for 2.2 million US dollars to an anonymous buyer.

Emerald, May's Birthstone, has been prized for thousands of years for its lush green hues and rare beauty. Throughout the ancient world, emerald symbolized eternal hope, rebirth and the arrival of spring - and some cultures believed the gem rewarded its owners with love, intelligence and eloquence as well.

The ancients ascribed numerous magical and mystical properties to this most precious of green gems. In ancient Rome, for example, emeralds were believed to have a soothing effect on the soul. Modern scientists have since shown this myth to have some basis in fact: tests indicate that the human eye is more sensitive to green than any other color. Middle Age seers used emeralds to foretell the future, as well as to ward off evil spirits and cure ailments ranging from bad eyesight to infertility. The stone was also said to improve memory and bring great wealth to its wearer.

Derived from the Latin word for green, "smaragdus", emerald is also the traditional gift of choice for couples celebrating their 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Emeralds come in a variety of light and dark shades of green - and often with subtle background hues of other colors like yellow, blue, brown or gray. Generally, the purer and richer the green, the more valuable the emerald. The gem ranks 7.5-8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means that emerald, while relatively hard, can still be scratched, chipped or split fairly easily. Most emeralds have numerous flaws, or "inclusions", which weaken their structure. Flawless emeralds are exceptionally rare, and therefore command great prices (in some instances, higher than diamonds).

When shopping for emeralds, keep in mind that the gems are judged by size, color, clarity and cut (although because of the stone's penchant for inclusions, a lesser clarity is acceptable - as long as light is still reflected through the gem). Color is extremely important, and is broken down into three considerations: hue (the basic color of the stone, including any tints other than green); tone (the "depth" of color, ranging from "light" to "dark"); and saturation (the purity of the green and the level of other hues, if present).

Fissures, or cracks, are common in emeralds. Try to avoid those that penetrate too deeply into the stone, thus making it more susceptible to splitting.

Like most gemstones in the market today, emeralds are usually treated in some way to remove surface flaws and enhance color. The most common (and acceptable) technique is to oil the stone with a green-tinted oil to fill in surface cracks. The oil hardens and strengthens the stone, and improves its green color as well.

In caring for your emerald, avoid ultrasonic cleaners that can remove the oil, or harsh cleansers that can damage its relatively soft surface. Clean with a soft, damp cloth and warm water, and a soft bristle brush if needed. The gem has been known to crack when exposed to extreme temperatures, so keep this in mind when wearing your emerald. Regularly check that setting prongs aren't loose or cracked, and have a jeweler re-oil every few years.

The Hindi Name for the Gemstone is "PANNA".

Appearance : The typical colour is a beautiful, distinctive hue known, in fact, as emerald green and is due to traces of chromium in the crystal structure. But Emeralds can be light or dark green, bright green or leaf green. The vitreous lustre is not outstanding, and is strongest in light coloured gemstones. Stones of fine colour, weighing from 2 carats, are among highly valued gems.

Occurrence : Colombia is still the main country of occurrence for fine Emeralds. About 150 mining sites are known there. The biggest and most beautiful gemstones come from Columbia (Muzo and Chivor Mines), Russia, Brazil, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Sandwana Mines), India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Substitutes : The most common substitutes of this gem are Aventurine Quartz, Tourmaline, Green Glass, Tsavorite, Synthetic Emerald, Apatite, Green Chalcedony (Onyx) , Soude Emerald and Peridot.

Chemical Composition : BERYLLIUM ALUMINIUM SILICATE, the Colouring Element being CHROMIUM, VANADIUM & IRON for this Gem.