The birthstone of May, the enchanting emerald is a unique symbol of hope, faith, and loyalty. Long prized for its beauty and rarity, the symbol of love, rebirth and renewal comes in an array of green hues. But apart from the lush-green hues of emeralds that we see in jewelry, there’s way more than meets the eye.
The history and lore of emeralds have no limits. For instance, the Spanish traded emeralds for precious metals, which ignited the interests of the Asian and European royalties for the grandeur of emeralds. If legends were to be believed, this gemstone could also reveal the genuineness of a lover’s oath. The history & lore of this gemstone are fascinating.
Durability of Emerald Jewelry
Like sapphires and rubies, emeralds are also very durable as they have a hardness score of 8 on the Mohs scale. So, emerald jewelry is certainly suitable for everyday wear. With each passing year, jewelry designers have found new ways to showcase emeralds in a modern way.
Since there are so many reasons for anyone to fall in love with this gemstone, it might have tickled your fancy as well. If you are looking to add emeralds to your own collection, here are some things you should know.
Beauty in Imperfections
You may have noticed during an emerald search that it can be very difficult to find an eye-clean emerald, free of inclusions. Inclusions are any fractures, fissures, or feathering marks within the gemstone or on its surface.
Emeralds naturally have more inclusions (internal flaws) than other gemstones. As such many emerald stones require treatment for removing imperfections. However, for those that want a unique look for their gemstone, the natural inclusions of an emerald can actually be ideal. In some cases, inclusions can unintentionally form patterns in the gemstone. To some, inclusions actually enhance the look of the emerald! It all depends on personal preference. But you shouldn’t choose emeralds with inclusions that have a drastic impact on the gemstone’s transparency and clarity.
Taking Care of Emerald Jewelry
Emeralds are very easy to care of due to their hardness and durability. To keep your emerald jewelry sparkling you may want to clean it to remove the unwanted dirt and residue build-up. Here are a few care tips to keep your emerald jewelry clean and shiny.
- Avoid contact with make-up, harsh chemicals (i.e. chlorine and bleach), moisturizers and abrasives. Take off your emerald jewelry while applying make up or removing it. Never swim or bathe with your jewelry on. Also avoid hard-impact activities such as exercising and gardening which may scratch or chip the emerald.
- Clean your emerald with a solution of lukewarm water and mild cleaning detergent. After dipping your emerald jewelry for a few minutes use a soft toothbrush to clean the underside of the emerald. Once clean, rinse and dry with a soft cloth. For extremely dirty jewelry, you may need to repeat the process.
- Store your emerald jewelry individually and avoid contact with other jewelry to prevent scratching.
- We highly recommend annual maintenance on your emerald jewelry to have the gems tightened and jewelry cleaned professionally. This will ensure that your jewelry lasts a lifetime.
- Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners for your emerald jewelry. Since most natural emeralds are fracture-filled (which is a standard practice), doing so will harm your jewel.
Shop Natural & Lab-made Emeralds
Natural emeralds might have a long history, lab-created emeralds have affordability. Both types of stones are real except for their origin. At GemsNY, you can find thousands of real emerald gemstones, both natural and lab-made. All emerald jewelry as well as other stones come with a certificate of authenticity. Check out our collection of emerald rings, earrings and pendants to buy one for yourself or your loved ones. Happy shopping!
