Those lucky enough to be born in May are treated to the beautiful Emerald, a rich green gemstone famed for its vibrant colour and associations with intelligence and quick wittedness. It is known for being one of the most highly valued gemstones in the world – alongside diamond – and one of the rarest. They have long been associated with romance, royalty and intellect making them fantastic gift ideas for anyone born in May. As well as being the May birthstone, Emerald is also used to celebrate 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Emerald Birthstone Meaning & History
Emerald has been a source of fascination for over six thousand years, having been sold in the markets of Babylon as early as 4,000 BC. Many cultures have worshipped the stone for its legendary powers famously including the Incas who believed the stone contained a goddess within it and the Egyptians who considered the stone a symbol of eternal life. Queen Cleopatra is one of the history’s most notable royals known to have adored the stone, favouring its colour and wearing it in many of her royal adornments.
Emeralds have also been worn and adored by the likes of Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, and the moguls of India who wore them in their crowns and royal attire. These stunning gemstones continue to be treasured by the rich and famous today. Elizabeth Taylor’s famous Emerald necklace remains on display, a breathtaking Bulgari emerald and diamond suite gifted to her from her lover Richard Burton. In 2011, the necklace sold for a whopping $280,000.
Where is Emerald found?
Unlike a lot of gemstones which are mined using large machinery, Emerald is often done by hand since the heavy pressure on the rock formations that they attach to can lead them to break apart. For the past 500 years, the finest emeralds have been sourced from Columbia in three main mining sites: Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez. Each of these sites are famed for the stunning sources of Emeralds but the Muzo site in particular is known for producing darker tones of pure green emeralds which tend to be the most rare and valuable. Emeralds can also be found in Zambia, Brazil, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
May Birthstone Jewellery
At C W Sellors, we have a fantastic selection of Emerald jewellery to choose from which make perfect gift ideas for someone celebrating their May birthday. From dazzling Emerald rings to exquisite Emerald necklaces and Emerald earrings, our selections of May birthstone jewellery will leave you spoiled for choice for that special someone. Get in touch with our team of gemstone jewellery specialists today for help and advice on our range of Emerald jewellery.
