May Focus: Emeralds

Emeralds are for May. Exquisite, so very green, it may even lead you to the yellow brick road! The emerald is a gemstone from the beryl family. Emeralds, like other gems, are graded to the four C's: clarity, cut, color, and carat. But it's most important are the clarity and color. Emeralds must have the clear medium to dark green and transparency qualities to be considered top-notch.

 


Be careful of your emerald jewelry. Although it has a hardness scale of 7.5-8, many emeralds carry inclusions within it naturally and therefore, more prone to breakage or brittleness. So, rather than everyday wear, take your emeralds out on special occasions and check the settings carefully. Mild soap and water when needed is safest but get a proper cleaning from your favorite jeweler.
Emeralds can be found in many places throughout the world. In the United States, they have been mined in North Carolina since the late 1800s. Most emeralds come from Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.


The emerald is a life-affirming stone. It is associated with the heart chakra and provides inspiration, wisdom, and patience. It strengthens the heart and kidneys and promotes well-being in your circulatory system.