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The Emerald’s Tale

The emerald’s rich tradition can be traced back through the ages, symbolizing status for royalty and aristocrats. This vibrant green gem often conjures up images of beauty, wealth and adventure; emeralds have been sought after by some of the most famous Emperors, Queens and Movie Stars in history. The first evidence of emerald mining dates back to 3500 BC in the ancient Cleopatra mines of Egypt. Emeralds were turned into items of adornment for the elite and were believed to hold magical powers, such as repelling evil spells, revealing the truth, predicting the future and even aiding in fertility. The Cleopatra mines were in operation on and off for over 1700 years.

In the 16th Century, news had spread that there were emeralds of unimaginable beauty in the new world. Spanish conquistadors traveled to South America where they discovered the Chivor and Muzo mines in Colombia; here they found emeralds with amazing clarity, color and size. Royalty throughout the world looked to the Muzo mines as a primary source of large emerald crystals. Many of the emeralds found their way to India where skilled master gem cutters turned them into stunning and ornate pieces of jewelry and decoration. The mines of Colombia are still in production and account for 60 percent of the emeralds mined out of the earth each year.

Throughout the years, emeralds have been fashioned into beautiful pieces of art, from jewelry to intricately carved vases. Many museums’ most famous attractions are emerald pieces ranging in origin from ancient Egypt to the lovely art deco era. The emerald continues to wow people with its vivid green color, and is still one of the most desired gemstones on the market. It is the birthstone for the month of May, and the focus of many contemporary pieces of jewelry. One thing is for certain, emeralds will continue to adorn jewelry lovers across the world for centuries to come.