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Precious Stones -the Big Five Part 1 The Emerald
By Sam Serio, Thu Dec 8th
The emerald is probably the most rare of all precious stonesand is considered by some to be even more valuable than thediamond. Compared with other precious stones the emerald in itsoccurrence in nature is unique, for it is found in the rock inwhich it was formed. Unlike diamonds, sapphires and rubies, itnever occurs in gem gravels. The earliest known locality whereemeralds were found was in Upper Egypt near the coast of the RedSea. The best stones, however, are found in Columbia, SouthAmerica. Fine specimens have also been found in the UnitedStates in North Carolina. While
the usual shade of color seen in emeralds is alluded to asemerald green, there are other shades, such as grass green, seagreen and green slightly tinged with yellow. The shades mosthighly valued are those of an intense fresh green sometimescompared with that seen in a meadow in spring. Beryl is a mineral known to gem lovers under several differentnames, the most valued of which is the Emerald. The mineralberyl composing the various gems is practically the same incomposition, hardness, and other properties, and the gems may bedifferentiated only by their color. In composition beryl is asilicate of aluminum and glucinum. On the scale of hardnessberyl is graded 7 ˝ to 8, and is thus much softer than thediamond, ruby, or sapphire. It is owing to this fact that theemerald scratches easily and that care must be taken that whenworn it is not subject to chafing by diamonds or other hardergems. (Article continued below)
Beryl as a mineral is of quite common occurrence, and thecrystals of the mineral in its cruder form often grow toenormous size. There is one such single crystal preserved in theBoston Museum of Natural History, which is three and one halffeet long and three feet wide and weighs several tons. Beryl in this common form occurs in many localities, but themineral in its rarer form of emerald is comparatively of veryrare occurrence. The emerald or green beryl, as it should bescientifically known, has long been the most highly prized ofthe green gems. In brilliancy it exceeds all other green gemsexcepting only the very rare green sapphire. The most valuablespecimens exhibit a vivid grass-green shade, and it is to thiscolor that they owe their great value. Other considerations,such as freedom from imperfections, are quite secondary indetermining the value of the stone. In fact a perfect emerald isalmost never found, and this circumstance has passed into anEastern simile which runs, “As scarce as a perfect emerald,”this being a symbol for the acme of rarity. The emerald is lightin weight and an emerald of a given size will be about a thirdlarger than a diamond and forty-five per cent larger than asapphire of equal weight. The distinctive color of the emeraldis probably due to a trace of chromium in its composition. Fine emeralds are generally cut cushion shape with step cutting,and in the East are often cut cabochon. Fine emeralds haveadvanced very rapidly during the last few years, both on accountof the growing demand of fashion for the gems and the scarcityof really fine specimens. Many curious legends of gigantic emeralds have been handed downto us, principally culled from the narratives of earlytravelers, who thought every transparent green stone they saw tobe an emerald. The ancients valued the emerald highly, not alone for itsbeauty, but for its supposed occult properties and its marvelouspower of healing all diseases of the eye—they also believed thatif the eyes of a serpent met the gleam of the emerald, itimmediately became blind. Moore alludes to this superstition inthe lines: Blinded like serpents when they gaze Upon the emerald’s virginblaze. The Emperor Nero, who was shortsighted, had an eye-glass formedof an emerald, through which he gazed and gloated over the cruelsports of the arena. Many interesting stories are told of the first emeralds taken bythe early conquerors of Peru to Spain, and a certain Joseph D’Acosta is said to have returned to Spain in 1587 with two chestsof emeralds, each of which weighed over one hundred pounds. Thetruth of this story may be questioned, but it is a fact that thestones were highly prized and much used by the Incas and Aztecsin the extraordinary civilization which once existed in Peru.The emerald was highly prized by the ancients and by gem loversof the middle ages, and this accounts for many interestinglegends and superstitions relating to the gem. As for today, the emerald is still very highly valued as one ofthe most precious stones. The emerald is May’s birthstone and isa favorite stone for fine jewelry craftsmen throughout theworld. About the author:The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have beenpassionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for overfifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visithttp://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of informationabout the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Togetherthey also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portionof their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals. | Sign In |
