“Who first beholds the light of day
In spring’s sweet flowery month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and happy wife.”
EMERALD – MAY’S BIRTHSTONE
Twenty times rarer than the Diamond, the Emerald, is widely recognised as the birthstone of May.
Named after the Greek for “green stone” the emerald has a long and rich history: at the earliest known gem market in Babylon in around 4,000 BC, an emerald was dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Venus, for its ability to ensure security in love.
Cleopatra, also, preferred this stone above all others and, when visiting dignitaries left Egypt, she would present them with large Emeralds carved with her portrait. During her reign, she claimed all the Egyptian Emerald mines for herself.
As well as using the stones for lavish jewellery, Cleopatra and the Ancient Egyptians believed that Emeralds could be used to treat eye diseases and that the green colour represented fertility and rebirth. The dead were often buried with Emeralds to symbolise eternal youth.
Emeralds today are just as popular; Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie are regularly seen on the red carpet sporting gorgeous emerald pieces.
Emerald jewellery makes the perfect gift for anyone born in May. However, gifting an emerald is special at any time…. so why wait?
Take a look at our Emerald range here.