With their lush green color and eternal mystic, emeralds (also called Panna Stone ) have captivated civilisations throughout the ages. As one of the inherent members of the exclusive “Big Three” of colored gemstones, along with ruby stone and sapphires, emeralds are not only decorative stones. They are endlessly fascinating of their history, their metaphysical beauty, and geological peculiarities.
Being a gemstone lover, a collector, or simply studying emeralds due to spiritual or investment purposes, here are some captivating facts about emeralds that will perhaps make you look at this green gemstone in a completely different light.
The majority of emeralds are estimated to be more than 500 million years old, and others date as far as 2.97 billion years. This implies that the stones which you now observe on
ring
and necklaces were developed even before the dinosaurs had trod on the earth. They are very ancient and rare, as their formation process needs very specific conditions of beryllium-rich fluids mixing with either chromium or vanadium.
In ancient Egypt, emeralds were considered to be symbols of eternity, youthfulness and fertility. The famous queen Cleopatra is known to have been fascinated by these gems to the extent that she possessed her own mine of them. She adorned them and presented them as diplomatic gifts to visiting dignitaries and linked the gem with power and celestial beauty.
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Currently, nearly 70 to 90% of emeralds in the world are produced in Colombia. The three most well-known mining areas of the country are Muzo, Chivor and Coscuez, each of them yielding these green gems of a different colour and of different qualities. Muzo emeralds are characterised by their rich velvety green, Chivor by bluish overtones and Coscuez by clear vivid greens.
Further Reading:- What Are The Top Sources Of Emerald Stone?
Almost every Panna stone available in the market is oiled to improve clarity. It is the insertion of surface-reaching fractures with oil or other resins. Although it is normal in the business and is mostly acceptable, respectable sellers should
reveal the treatment and its level. It can make highly treated emeralds less valuable and brittle with time.
According to the Western tradition, emerald is the May birthstone , a stone of growth, renewal and love.
And it is connected with Mercury, as per Indian astrology, the planet of communication and creativity. It is also said to bring improvement to self-expression, intellect and mental clarity.
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Some may be surprised to find out that fine emeralds can cost more than a diamond of the same size. The largest and the best Colombian source, untreated, bright green in colour, and with the fewest inclusions, may command tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars a carat. These are valued because of their rarity and beauty.
Synthetic emeralds, chemically and optically equivalent to natural ones but grown in laboratories, were first made in the 1930s. They may be so deceiving to a layman's eye. Nevertheless, they can be identified by gemologists under magnification and spectroscopy. They are significantly lower in value than natural gemstones ; hence, they represent a cheaper and more ethical option. Although if you want gems for investment or astrological purposes rather than fashion, then you must go for natural gems.
Besides Egypt and Colombia, the Mughals of India also venerated emeralds, having them engraved with prayers and using them as charms. Some of the best historical pieces of traditional indian jewellery are the ones with these green stones as centerpeice.
Additionally, Inca civilisation considered them as stones of God, and Spanish conquistadors took them back to Europe, where they were fought over by kings and queens because of their brilliant colours.
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Emeralds are relatively hard (7.5-8) as per Moh’s hardness scale; however, because of inclusions and internal fissures, they are actually more brittle than their hardness would indicate. They should be handled with care, cleaned with caution (not
in ultrasonic cleaners), and kept out of harder gems such as diamonds or
sapphire stone
, which might scratch them.
Emeralds, the precious gemstones, are one of the navratans, astrologically well-known, loved for their colour and in demand because of their rarity. If you also want to get your hands on these beautiful gemstones,
buy original gemstones
now at Navratan, the online gem bazaar, where you will get lab-certified gems at the best prices. You can also get your
gemstone jewellery
customised.
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