May 2008 , Volume 19 Number 7
Community Paper
copyright ©2008 by Community Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

MAY BIRTHSTONE - EMERALD!
by Phyllis Stewart-Tuell, Gemologist, Stewart Jewelry
2212 Edgewater Drive, 407-425-1496
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Emerald is the most valuable member of the Beryl (pronounced BARE-ill) family and one of the most prized of all gems. No other gem in the world possesses its glory of color. Ancient man told marvelous tales of this regal gem, whose beauty was a miracle to him. Its color symbolizes the beauty and promise of nature in the spring of each year. It is an equally appropriate symbol of faith, kindness and goodness.

The emerald was dedicated to the goddess Venus, and lovers were told that it was endowed with the power to reveal the faithfulness of the beloved. It was believed to make the wearer more frugal and therefore more likely to become wealthy.

Emeralds have been mined in Colombia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Russia, Zambia, Madagascar and the United States. Since emeralds have no fire and less brilliance than most other gems, the beauty and distribution of color are the prime factors in determining its value. As a rule, the better the color, the less imperfections the more desirable the stone. Typically, Emeralds are usually flawed, have poor toughness and are commonly oiled or color enhanced. Some good advice: Take your emerald jewelry off before you garden or play tennis! Be careful not to drop a piece of emerald jewelry casually into your jewelry box; a sharp bang against hard materials may scratch it.

Come in and let us show you fine emerald jewelry and the difference between natural and a synthetic stone.