Emerald is the light green version of the silicate mineral beryl. The beryl mineral family is among the most highly prized gemstone varieties and is even referred to as the "mother of gemstones." At Tarboz, you'll find intense, green beauties ideal for truly special pieces of jewelry.

The beryl mineral is arguably one of the most valuable gemstones of all, alongside diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Incidentally, emeralds with minor "blemishes" such as inclusions are often more valuable than seemingly flawless stones and are definitely the most impressive gemstone in the beryl group. Calculated per carat, emeralds can easily be more valuable and expensive than diamonds.

The name emerald derives from the Latin word smaragdus , which was borrowed from the Greek word smáragdos, meaning "green stone." However, the name probably dates back even further, as words from Sanskrit and Semitic languages ​​had similar meanings. This is not surprising given the stone's long history.

In English, the gemstone is known as emerald. Due to its incomparable green color, the name is often associated with other green things. For example, the Emerald Isle is nicknamed the Emerald Isle.

The stone's color ranges from light yellow-green to dark blue-green . The stone achieves its color through small amounts of chromium or vanadium ions. The so-called "tonus" is important. This ranges from a very light green to dark green. Darker emeralds are considered more valuable.

Emeralds were probably mined in ancient Egypt as early as the 13th century BC. Over the next 1,000 years, the stones also made their way to Europe from there. The sparkling stones have also been known in the Persian region for a long time. Emeralds were very popular with the Mughals in India. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs were often buried with an emerald. Amulets and emerald jewelry were not uncommon at that time.

After Egypt and the Orient, South America also became a source of gems around the 16th century. When the Spanish arrived in the region, they quickly discovered that there was a thriving trade between present-day Colombia and Chile and Mexico, and the green South American stones replaced the Egyptian ones in Europe. Even today, more than half of all gems come from Colombia. Other important deposits are found in Brazil and the Ural Mountains. Tarboz provides information about the origin of each gemstone. Colombian emeralds are also consistently in demand on the market.

To this day, Colombia remains the most important country for the international emerald trade. Emeralds are 20 times rarer than diamonds .

Cleopatra's emerald mine , which is said to have existed for 1,000 years, is shrouded in legend. It was rediscovered in 1817 after five centuries. Cleopatra was said to have been thrilled by the special, green gemstones. They were even attached to mummies to ensure eternal youth in the afterlife. The Incas, Mayans, and other South American civilizations were skilled at crafting special pieces of jewelry from the green stones. The first mines in Egypt were also known as the Cleopatra Mines.

The emerald is the birthstone of May. So, if you gift someone born in May with a gemstone in this stunning color, choose a gift that's absolutely fitting! Even in ancient Egypt, emeralds were believed to have healing properties, but they were also a status symbol for pharaohs. The stone is said to protect its wearer from existential crises and can be a support in life. The vibrant green color has a calming effect and is said to have a positive influence on the psyche. We can't scientifically prove this, but we'd certainly like to believe it. In ancient times, the stones were ground and processed into medicines.

The gemstone represents power and eternal youth. Furthermore, an emerald ring is said to promise wisdom and good luck for the wearer. Many couples give each other emerald jewelry for their 55th wedding anniversary, the emerald wedding.

The chemical properties of the green emerald are very similar to those of the mineral beryl. Both are also roughly equally hard. Crystals usually form with a luster similar to glass. Small inclusions are not uncommon in these gemstones and do not bother many gemstone enthusiasts.

In 1935, IG Farben in Bitterfeld discovered how to produce artificial emeralds that are easy to cut. Inclusions, known as jardin, are perfectly normal in natural emeralds and do not negatively affect the price. This creates beautiful effects in some emerald gemstones. It also makes it possible to determine whether the stone is real or artificial. In the Tarboz online shop, we only offer genuine gemstones. Emeralds can also be confused with other gemstones, such as tourmaline, but professionals can recognize the differences. However, it is not always possible to tell with the naked eye whether a stone is genuine or synthetic.

The largest uncut emerald is arguably the Bahia Emerald. This emerald actually consists of several related crystals and was discovered in Bahia, Brazil, in 2001. It weighs almost two million carats, or approximately 381 kg. Another large emerald, weighing 16,300 carats, can be seen in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul. Famous emeralds have been worn by equally famous women such as Lady Diana and Elizabeth Taylor.

Avoid cleaning with ultrasound or steam. A soft cloth and a little water are usually sufficient. However, from time to time, treatment with oil may be necessary. Ultrasound would remove the important oil that protects the stone. For more severe soiling, it is best to place the stone in lukewarm water with a little soap. After soaking for about 30 minutes, you can clean the stone with a soft toothbrush. Finally, simply rinse the stone under lukewarm water. Avoid using chemicals when cleaning. Salt water or chlorine are also harmful to the gemstone.

Emerald jewelry has been sought after in many cultures for thousands of years and is considered highly valuable. Brazilian emeralds, in particular, command particularly high prices . For clear crystals, the special emerald cut, an octagonal step cut, has become popular. This particularly highlights the exceptional color. This creates, for example, beautiful pendants or emerald rings.

This cut is ideal because the gemstone is very sensitive to impact. While the stone is quite hard and hardly scratches, it is quite brittle. Setting it in a setting is therefore quite difficult. Trapiche emeralds from Colombia are particularly sought-after, but they are very rare. This emerald is often given as a gift for 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Many pieces of emerald jewelry belong to royal families. For example, you can admire a tiara with green stones that belonged to Marie Thérèse in the Louvre today.