Gemstone lovers, let's dive into the fascinating world of gemstones associated with May birthdays! If you were born in this month, your birthstone is emerald .

Emerald – the gemstone of the heart and renewal – has been a symbol of love, wisdom, hope and harmony since time immemorial. Its bright green color is reminiscent of spring in full bloom and is associated with growth, renewal and new beginnings. In ancient Egypt, it was considered the stone of eternal life and was the favorite gemstone of Queen Cleopatra herself.

Spiritually, emerald promotes peace of mind, balance, and a deeper connection with oneself and the world around us. It is said to enhance intuition, empathy, and bring clarity and emotional healing to life. It is also a stone of sincerity, deep feelings, and inner strength.

Whether you wear it for its beauty, energy, or as a talisman of love and well-being, the emerald will remind you that true beauty grows from within and nature has the power to heal and inspire.

Emerald is a traditional gift for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries and as an alternative piece of jewelry for the 55th anniversary.
If you are choosing jewelry for your wedding anniversary, we will be happy to advise you.

Emerald – meaning and history

Emerald is a gemstone of eternal beauty and wisdom. Its color is almost iconic and the stone is considered one of the most valuable in the world. The name comes from the Greek word smaragdos, which originally meant a green stone. The Greek word itself probably comes from the Latin smaragdus.

This beautiful stone was valued in ancient civilizations, from Egypt to India to South America.

Egypt
Cleopatra was the most famous lover of emeralds, which adorned her jewelry and palace. The Egyptians believed that the emerald symbolized eternal life and used it in funeral rituals.

Roman Empire
The Romans associated emerald with fertility and renewal, and it was a talisman against bad eyesight.

South America
The Incas and Aztecs considered emerald a sacred stone of the gods and had deep spiritual significance.

Symbolism and properties of emerald

Emerald is considered a stone of love, wisdom and renewal . Its green color resonates with nature, growth and the heart chakra – emotions, compassion and balance.

On a spiritual level, it brings peace, harmony and emotional stability, supports intuition, truth and connection with nature and the heart. It protects against negative influences. Its color is the color of life energy and growth.

An emerald shrouded in myths and legends

Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians believed that the emerald protected against betrayal and ensured eternal youth. Egyptian priests associated it with the goddess Isis/Eset - the wearer of rebirth. The most revered goddess in all of Egyptian mythology.

Ancient Greece and Rome
Aristotle wrote that emerald strengthens speech, increases influence, and protects against evil spirits. Pliny the Elder claimed that it is the only stone that one can look at without tiring the eyes, and that it soothes the soul.

India and the Vedic tradition
Mārakata – emerald is the Vedic gemstone for the planet Mercury, supporting intelligence, wisdom, speech and mental balance. It is suitable for meditation, helping to deepen knowledge and intuition.

Medieval legends and alchemy
According to legend, the emerald was set in the Holy Grail – a symbol of divine knowledge. Alchemists believed that the emerald “opens the heart” and provides insight into the secrets of the universe.

Emerald Tablet – Tabula smaragdina
A text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus (identified with Hermes or Thoth, i.e. Mercury). The tablet contains truths and principles, the most frequently quoted sentence being: "That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below.", which is intended to illustrate the connection between the material and spiritual worlds, the relationship between the microcosm and the macrocosm.

Modern magic and esotericism
Emerald is considered a stone of true love and spiritual connection. It is used to open the heart chakra and protect relationships. It is a talisman of seers and intuitive healers.

The world's most famous emerald deposits

Brazil	Extensive deposits: Bahia, Minas Gerais and Goiás states. Emeralds are often larger but slightly lighter. Brazilian mines are known for their combination with other crystals (e.g. emerald quartz).
Colombia	Colombia is considered the kingdom of emeralds. The most famous and highest quality emeralds in the world come from here. Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez – legendary mines with a history dating back to the Inca era and Spanish colonization. Colombian emeralds have an iconic deep green color and high clarity.
Zambia	Zambia produces high-quality emeralds, often with a blue-green or cooler hue. The Kagem mine is one of the world's largest producers. They are often clearer than Colombian emeralds, but have a different tonality of color.
Russia, Russian Federation	The Urals are a historic 19th century mining site that supplied the Russian aristocracy. Emeralds are sometimes almost opaque, with a green tinge.
Afghanistan and Pakistan	Smaller deposits are found here, but they are highly valued for the high quality and rich color of the emeralds.

Interesting facts

The Chalk Emerald is a 37.82 carat (7.564 g) emerald of deep green color, a step-cut rectangle, from the Muzo mine in Colombia. It is set in a ring and exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in the United States.

The Mogul Emerald is the largest emerald known to date in the world, weighing 217.8 carats (43.56 g). It is rectangular in shape, has invocations in naskh script (dated to 1107 AH), and is decorated with flowers and leaves on the reverse. It comes from Colombia and was crafted for a Mughal ruler in India.

The Duke of Devonshire Emerald is one of the largest and most famous uncut emeralds in the world, weighing 1,383.93 carats (276.786 g). Like the Chalk, it comes from the Muzo mine in Colombia. It was sold to the 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1831.

The Patricia Emerald is a 632-carat (126.4 g) rough emerald from Colombia, dating back to 1920.

The Rockefeller Emerald is an 18.04-carat (3.608 g) emerald from Colombia, formerly owned by the Rockefeller family, and one of the most expensive emeralds ever sold at auction. It was sold for $5.5 million, approximately 130 million crowns.

Stone cleaning

Cleaning an emerald is a simple but important process as it helps to preserve its shine and beauty. Emerald is quite fragile, with a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8, so cleaning it requires care.

Cleaning diamond jewelry at home

Prepare:

• A bowl of lukewarm water.
• A little mild detergent .
• Soft toothbrush.
• A clean , soft microfiber cloth.

Procedure:

Mix the solution by adding a few drops of detergent to a bowl of water, gently scrub the stone with a soft toothbrush dipped in the solution, rinse with lukewarm water and gently dry with a cloth.

Store emeralds separately from other jewelry to prevent scratches.

Avoid:

• abrasive cleaners, bleaches and toothpaste,
• ultrasound and steam cleaners.

Professional cleaning

It is recommended to take the jewelry to a jeweler at least once a year, not only for cleaning, but also to check the attachment of the stone, especially if the emerald has a filling.

You can find all cleaning and recharging methods in our article here.

Who should buy which stone and many reasons why this one and not another can be found in our guides: Working with stones, where you can find precious stones by month of birth and the color scheme of stones by zodiac sign.
Are you choosing jewelry for your wedding anniversary? We will be happy to help you with that too.

We wrote the article for you on April 23, 2025.

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