May’s Birthstone – Emerald

May’s birthstone is the beautiful emerald which is the symbol of rebirth, fertility and love.  

May's birthstone - emerald, is thought to grant eternal youth to the wearer and for this reason, it was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. She thought she could achieve eternal youth and beauty by reflecting the most precious emeralds on her skin. The Ancient Romans dedicated the emerald to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Throughout history emeralds have been treasured by all cultures and civilisations.  Emeralds stand for maturity and were the stone of divine instinct for the Greeks. They symbolized hope and development and provided protection to travellers.

 Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience. Emeralds are also associated with loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The abundance of the life force associated with the emerald, empowers the wearer with foresight into the future, and good fortune.

The traditional metaphysical properties given to the emerald are memory, clairvoyance and faith. Emeralds improve psychic and clairvoyant abilities, giving the wearer a keener insight into dreams. They are also used as aid in meditation.

 Emeralds have many healing properties which help health problems relating to circulatory and neurological disorders as well as conditions associated with the eyes, fertility, the spine and headaches. Precious green emeralds have the power to heal both the mind and the body and are known to boost mental capabilities.

Emeralds come in wide range of wonderful green tones. The finest emeralds possess not only a pure verdant green, but also a high degree of transparency to be considered a top gem. Yellow and blue are the normal secondary hues found in emeralds but only gems that are medium to dark in green tone are considered to be emeralds.

Learn more about the qualities of emeralds 

Emerald was derived from the Greek word smaragdus, meaning green. It was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C and Emeralds from the Red Sea area were the foundation of the wealth of the Pharaohs. The Inca civilisation also utilized emeralds in their art, but unfortunately many of these were stolen by the Spanish and taken back to Europe.

May's birthstone, the emerald, makes wonderful jewellery and is the ideal gift  for your loved one. Treat your fiance as a royal with an exquisite emerald engagement ring  - she is after all your princess. 

 

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