What you’re seeing above is the most expensive emerald tiara that broke all the records and was auctioned by Sotheby’s for £7.8 million in 2011. This tiara has 11 pear-shaped emeralds totaling around 500 carats and was in the collection of Princess Katharina Henckel Von Donnersmarck.
The fascination towards this gemstone ‘emerald’ continues from the nobles and royalties of the world to present-day celebrities and the common man alike. Here we are presenting to you some of the information and facts about emeralds which you’d certainly like reading about.
Emeralds are Valuable with Inclusions
Natural emeralds feature imperfections or flaws which are known as inclusions. The French word ‘jardin,’ (English- garden) is used to describe these inclusions apparently due to their moss-like appearance. Individual inclusions make each stone completely distinct, which adds to the appeal for many collectors. As a result, a high-saturation emerald with inclusions will be worth more than a low-saturation emerald with no inclusions.
Natural emeralds with no flaws are so uncommon that one might be worth more than a top-quality diamond of equal weight. So unlike many other gemstones, including diamonds, emerald is one gemstone where these inclusions add a distinctive charm thereby making it more valuable at times. Explore the wide variety of certified natural emeralds at GemsNY.
Brief History of Emerald
The earliest emeralds date back around 2.97 billion years. Around 1500 BC, the first emeralds were discovered in Egypt. Emerald was one of Cleopatra’s favorite stones, and her fascination with it was well recorded.
The Spanish found emeralds in South America in the 16th century but the Incas had been using emeralds for a long time before they were discovered. The Spanish exchanged emeralds for precious metals across Europe and Asia, bringing the emerald trade to the rest of the world.
Emeralds were discovered in North America for the first time in 1997 in the Yukon Territory, while substantial emerald occurrences in the United States and further north are extremely rare. Synthetic sapphire and ruby were made in 1907, but it wasn’t until 1935 that American chemist Carroll Chatham successfully grew his first 1-carat Chatham emerald. The Smithsonian Institute presently has this stone on exhibit.
Basic Facts about Emerald
One of the four recognized valuable gemstones is emerald. Ruby, sapphire, and diamond are the others. The birthstone for May is emerald, which is also the traditional present for the 20th, 35th, and 55th wedding anniversaries in the United States. Emerald, like the gemstone aquamarine, is composed of beryl. The mineral beryl in itself is colorless, so the green hue of emerald comes from trace levels of chromium and/or vanadium. Because of its lesser density, a 1-carat emerald seems larger than a 1-carat diamond.
Colombia produces the most emeralds, accounting for more than half of all emerald output worldwide. On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, emerald measures 8 out of 10. Despite their toughness, emeralds are prone to chipping and because of this risk, emeralds require more care and expertise to place into jewelry. Nonetheless, the popularity of emeralds is soaring continuously. If you too have some fascination whether a Colombian emerald ring or earrings, you can certainly find it in the versatile emerald jewelry collection at GemsNY.com
Beliefs & Symbolism Related to Emerald
Do you want to know whether your partner is telling you the truth? There was a time when emerald was said to function as a kind of truth potion, assisting in the determination of whether the lover’s vows were sincere or untrue. It was also believed that emeralds could provide clairvoyance if put under the tongue.
Though the green color of emerald symbolizes green earth and continuous regeneration, it is also a natural stress buster for our eyes. Early lapidaries used to rest their eyes after a long period of concentration, by looking at emeralds. Your May birthstone comes in numerous eye-pleasing shapes and sizes that you can buy at GemsNY.com.
The Favorite of Celebrities
Emeralds have gained a lot of popularity among Hollywood celebrities and many of them are seen favoring green on many occasions. Angelina Jolie has been photographed wearing a tablet-cut emerald pendant and earrings, while Victoria Beckham was seen donning a big emerald ring to stand out among the diamond-wearing divas.
Uma Thurman is a fan of this vibrant green stone, and she was photographed wearing Chopard emerald earrings at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. Elizabeth Taylor, the most gorgeous gem wearer of them all, was particularly fond of emeralds. Her Bulgari emerald set fetched £15.8 million at Christie’s auction. You can also grace your neckline with no less of a sparkle when you shop an emerald pendant from GemsNY.com
The Biggest Emeralds Around
The Duke of Devonshire Emerald is perhaps the most notable of the largest uncut emeralds around. It weighs 1383.93 carats and is secured in ‘The Vault’ of the Museum of Natural History, London. The stone was mined in Colombia during the 19th Century and was bought by William Cavendish, Sixth Duke of Devonshire. It is thought that it was either presented by or acquired from Emperor Don Pedro I of Brazil around 1831. There’s a lot of controversy regarding whether or not the stone on exhibit in the museum is real.
Emerald Buddha located in Bangkok’s Grand Palace
The 66 cm Emerald Buddha located in Bangkok’s Grand Palace grounds, at Wat Phra Kaeo, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is not emerald but jade. The use of the word ‘Kaeo’ or emerald in local language, alludes to the green color of the statue which was supposedly a present from gods to a revered monk.
Historians know that the Emerald Buddha has traveled across Asia as different armies and kingdoms struggled for control of a sculpture that is said to bring prosperity to the country in which it rests. However, the entire narrative behind parts of the Emerald Buddha’s early origins remains a mystery.
It is often said that owning an emerald is to own a piece of history. Pliny the Elder, the Roman philosopher once stated “No color is more delightful in appearance. For although we enjoy looking at plants and leaves, we regard Emeralds with all the more pleasure, because compared with them there is nothing that is more intensely green”.
The famous green has extended beyond the gemstone to be the name associated with lush landscapes; the island being named the Emerald Isle and Seattle in the United States as the Emerald City.
We hope you enjoyed reading this information as much as we did compile it for you. You can get a piece of history for yourself in the form of an emerald from GemsNY. Visit here to see the enthralling designs of emerald jewelry.
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