Emerald - The May Birthstone - Fun Facts & Folklore

Did you know that the  May birthstone, the emerald, was one of Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt's favorite gems?

The earliest reference to emeralds in Western literature come from Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist who is still considered one of the greatest thinkers in philosophy psycology and ethics. He was a great fan of the gemstone and wrote that owning an emerald increases the owner’s importance in presence and speech during business, gives victory in trials, helps settle litigation, and comforts and soothes eyesight. He also stated “An emerald hung from the neck or worn in a ring will prevent the falling sickness - epilepsy.

People of ancient times thought of emeralds as a promise of good luck, and also to have healing properties or promoting good health. The Aztecs regarded the stone as holy.

Throughout history, emeralds have been prized and worn by royalty and celebrities. 

Elizabeth Taylor was know for her love of precious jewels and many photos circulate of her wearing her famous wedding gift, a Bulgari emerald necklace from Richard Burton. Her necklace is worth $6.1M!

Emerald have long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love. Ancient Romans went so far as to dedicate this deep green stone to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience.

It is said to bring loyalty and provide for domestic bliss. It enhances unconditional love, unity and promotes friendship. It is also believed to keep partnerships in balance and can signal unfaithfulness if it changes colour.

The emerald has been a gem of fascination in many cultures for over six thousand years. It is so prized, that carat for carat, a fine emerald may be two to three times as valuable as a diamond

Although a strong stone, genuine emeralds are very expensive and can be a bit fragile to keep its lustre and clean. For these reasons, the emerald crystal or lab grown emeralds are becoming increasingly more popular especially for the person who is looking for a unique engagement ring.

Our Vintage Swarovski Crystal rings are unique, beautiful, and designed and made in the USA!