Thursday Thirteen #19

Thirteen Things about Emeralds Fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds. The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. In ancient Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love. Colombia continues to be at the top of the list in terms of the countries in which fine emeralds are found. Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl. Emerald's precious green color is caused by small amounts of chromium and enhanced by traces of iron. Emerald is regarded as the traditional birthstone for May, as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological signs of Taurus and Cancer. HARDNESS: 7.5 - 8 Clear stones with dark yet vibrant color command the highest prices. Most emeralds are oiled as part of the post lapidary process, in order to improve their clarity. Cedar oil is often used, having a similar refractive index, and it is a generally accepted practice. In some cultures, the emerald is the traditional gift for the 55th wedding anniversary. It is also used as a 20th and 35th wedding anniversary stone. (Hint to Hubby, I wouldn't mind getting an emerald for our 20th anniversary). The Gachala Emerald, an uncut 5-cm emerald crystal weighing 858 carats (172 g). The stone was found in 1967 at Vega de San Juan mine in Colombia and is named after the mining district where it was discovered. It was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by the New York jeweler, Harry Winston. The Chalk Emerald is a 37.82-carat Colombian emerald. It originally weighed 38.40 carats, but was recut and set in a ring, where it is surrounded by sixty pear-shaped diamonds (totalling 15 carats), by Harry Winston Inc. The ring is housed in the National Gem and Mineral Collection at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and was donated to the museum by Mr. and Mrs. O. Roy Chalk in 1972.