Our Emeralds Are More Than May Birthstone Gifts
Of all the colors, "green" is one of the most evocative when it comes to the English language. We use the word to signify a variety of feelings and concepts. It's associated with nature, money, luck, and health. Fittingly emerald, the best-known green gemstone, is also known to represent multiplicities. As the May birthstone, it is said to represent spring, renewal, and growth, but historically the stone has an even richer meaning. We're digging deep into emerald lore, and sharing some of our favorite Bario Neal emerald pieces along the way.
What Is An Emerald?
Emerald is the green to greenish blue variety of a mineral called beryl. Other popular varieties of beryl include the blue aquamarine and the blush pink morganite, both of which are mainstays in our collection. Depending on inclusions and variety, emerald can be variations of bright green, pale green, or smoky green. Inclusions are foreign materials trapped within the gemstone mineral and unlike with other stones, inclusions in emeralds actually contribute to the gem's value. Because of their delicate nature, inclusions are quite common in emeralds. Interestingly, emeralds with inclusions, often referred to as "jardin," can be even more valuable if these internal features form a visually appealing pattern when examined closely. Each emerald possesses a unique jardin, and the specific types of inclusions can sometimes even help identify the emerald's origin. However, the inclusions sometimes mean that emeralds, while quite hard and hard to scratch, are passed over when it comes to daily wear pieces because of durability. But at Bario Neal, we love emeralds in engagement rings! They're a colorful flip side to diamonds, and many people wear emeralds every day trouble-free. Trust your instincts on what will work for you or get in touch with our talented team to help guide you through the decision. Â
Emeralds are on the list of so-called "cardinal stones", along with amethyst, ruby, sapphires, and diamonds. These are gemstones that have traditionally been considered the most precious. A contributing factor to their value is that they are nearly 20 times more rare than diamonds. Our emerald jewelry pays homage to that rareness, but true to the Bario Neal ethos, our designs are intended to feel special while maintaining accessibility and authenticity.
Emerald Bands
Working with thoroughly vetted suppliers, we ethically source our emeralds from small-scale, artisanal miners + collectives, and family-owned mines that are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible way that benefits workers and surrounding communities.
Emerald Rings
A Brief History
The emerald has a vast history in which it carried profound symbolism. Emerald gemstones are said to have been first mined in Egypt as early as 330 BC, but experts estimate that the oldest emeralds are nearly 3 billion years old. Cleopatra was known for her love of emeralds, and claimed ownership of all Egyptian emerald mines, featuring the verdant stones in her royal adornments. In this instance, emeralds were believed to represent fertility and immortality. The Egyptians used emeralds both in jewelry and in their elaborate burial rites, often burying emerald stones with monarchs as symbols of protection. Other cultures believed emeralds to bring fortune, predict the future, ward off evil spirits, reinvigorate the weary, and serve as a highly respectable offering to deities. A shared belief between cultures was the value of emeralds; the gemstone was a treasure and a powerful status symbol.
Because of the stones high value, emeralds have long been associated with plundering colonizers and conquerors too, from Zambia to South America. Once the 16th century Spanish explorers invaded the Americas, they soon found that Inca communities had been mining emeralds in modern day Colombia for centuries. This history hasn't been fully erased from our industry today. At Bario Neal, we work diligently to ensure an ethical mining supply for emeralds, or we reach for recycled gemstones. We have created a high standard of ethics focused on traceable diamonds, colored gemstones, reclaimed precious metals, and Fairmined gold. We launched our first emerald jewelry collection in fall 2016 only after finding a mining collective that values people and the environment, and we continue to offer an array of emerald options originating primarily from Brazil.
Emerald Fine Jewelry
Precious Emerald Tips
While emeralds are a highly sought after emblem of symbolism and value, there are plenty of other green gemstones on the market. Here are some tips to consider when shopping to make sure emeralds are the right fit for you and your lifestyle.
- With their vivid green jardin, emeralds may not be the best everyday-wear ring for someone who is rough with their hands or has an active lifestyle. Even though their rating on the Moh’s Scale is relatively hard (7.5 to 8), these green goddesses aren’t particularly tough, meaning they can be prone to breakage.
- Because emeralds are somewhat brittle, consider cuts and settings that will help protect the stone.
- Emeralds can be damaged during polishing, be sure to have your stones professionally cleaned as needed.
- Ideal emeralds are highly transparent with a saturated green color that is evenly distributed. If the hue is too yellowish or too bluish, the stone is likely not emerald, but a different variety of beryl, which changes the value.
- Even though emeralds are among the costliest gemstones, our emerald jewelry prices fit many budgets.
Whether or not you have a May birthday, our emerald designs make great gifts or presents to self. And with designs from serpentine to art deco opulence, we've got you covered. Browse our made to order collection in stores + online, or make an appointment with our stellar team to create your unique custom emerald adornment. Remember, green means go. Loosely interpreted: Order now.