As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. Emerald, derived from the word “smaragdus,” means, quite literally, “green” in Greek. Emeralds are known as one of the most valuable stones in the world and are renowned for their exquisite color and clarity. The most valuable emeralds have a deep green color with no visible flaws. They also have a hardness rating of 7.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness (1 being the softest).
Emeralds can be found in many different shades of green—from light to dark hues—depending on where they are mined and how they were formed over time. Colombia is home to some of the best emerald mines in all of South America; however, due to centuries-old mining techniques that do not protect against environmental degradation (such as open-pit mining), these precious stones may become scarce within decades if we do not take action now!
The color green itself is often considered positive because it represents growth and renewal—just like springtime!
