Emerald: the gem full of deep meanings

Emerald . Are you wondering what this word means ? Let's start with the etymology. Its origin is Greek, " smeragdos " and in ancient times the emerald stone was associated with faith and immortality but also with rebirth and, in the driest areas of the Mediterranean, with the hope of more profitable harvests.

So, what does emerald mean today ? Generally, emerald rings are given to protect marriage, bring good luck, bring fertility, and maintain good health.

What mineralogical species does emerald belong to?

Emerald is a variety of beryl and owes its green color to traces of chromium ions within it, mixed with traces of vanadium that give it different shades. This gem is the most precious among the types of beryl.

What color is emerald and why is its color green?

Green characterizes it and the presence of traces of chromium was chosen as the decisive criterion to define the emerald stone and distinguish it from aquamarine which is another stone, also from the beryl family, whose greenish color is linked to the presence of iron ions.

Each emerald, in any case, is unique and will not be the same as any other. It is generally cut in square or rectangular shapes with rounded corners and in this case we speak of the classic "emerald cut" that highlights the intense green of the stone.

Where are emerald deposits located?

The main emerald deposits are located mainly in Colombia, Brazil, Rhodesia, South Africa, India, Tanzania and Russia.

And the history of the emerald stone is truly ancient , in fact, the natural emeralds found today were created millions of years ago from deposits of granite, pegmatite and also in hydrothermal vents formed by the discharge of fluids, containing beryl, from the Earth's magma mantle.

The first emerald mines were discovered in the southern part of Egypt and there was evidence of emerald processing as early as 2000 BC.

But what is the history of the emerald?

The oldest emerald in the world was discovered in South Africa and, according to scholars, it dates back to 2.9 billion years ago. With this precious stone, jewels would have been created already 4,000 years ago also because, in Egypt, the emerald for the Egyptians had magical properties.

Pharaohs and high priests were buried with an emerald around their neck as a symbol of eternal youth. And if we are talking about eternal youth, we can say that, according to legend, even the queen of Egypt preferred the emerald precisely to preserve her youth .

The Incas had been using this gem in jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years and, according to legend, the emerald was considered a gift from the gods and was also called the "stone of kings" .