May’s Birthstone: Emerald

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but emeralds certainly run a close second, or if recent sales results are anything to go by may even be in pole position.

Emerald—known for its exquisite green colour and captivating inclusions—is an extremely beautiful gemstone. A variety of the mineral beryl, emerald is one of the most valuable stones on the planet, one of the big four and is also the birthstone of May.

Rare and precious, emerald is regarded as "The Jewel of Kings". Coveted for centuries and symbolic of peace, wisdom and new life, where adorn, the emerald's stunning colour is sure to make others go green with envy! Certainly not a sight for sore eyes, in fact, the magnificent emerald is said to improve one's vision when adored for any period of time.

Amongst the rarest and most coveted of these gemstones are Colombian emeralds, which remind us of the most intense green of the most luscious Irish pasture. Albeit these gems were formed far from these shores! Peering deep through a jeweller's loupe is a magical experience, the unique inclusions are markings from aeons ago, are indeed pleasing to the eye – a luscious garden of green foliage, hence the term Jardin, which means "garden" in French.

For centuries, jewels are more potent than a mere display of power and wealth, as history tells us that money alone could not buy the right to wear jewels, let alone emeralds. The craft of both cutting these gems and setting them in hand created jewellery has seriously declined. In Paris in the 1930s, there were an estimated 3500 jewellery workshops. Now these number approximately 300. As such the quality and detail found in antique jewellery is almost impossible to come across in a modern piece today.

Buying a birthday gift for someone special? Interested to learn more about our antique emerald jewellery? Book an appointment with one of our antique jewellery experts, or drop into us at Courtville Antique & Vintage Jewellers at the Antique Gallery, Powerscout Townhouse on 59 South William Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.