Emerald Special - by Dan Dennis

Unquestionably, Emerald is the most popular member of the beryl mineral group. Throughout history, the Emerald has played an important role in society and is a stone rich in folklore and tradition that has been embraced by many cultures.

Traditionalists have defined the emerald as the birthstone for the month of May. Yet other cultures that hold the emerald in high regard define the emerald as birthstone for the months of January, June, August and September. Astrologers have adopted the emerald as the astral stone for the signs of Taurus, Gemini and Cancer. The emerald is also considered the anniversary stone for the twentieth, thirty-fifth, and fifty-fifth wedding anniversaries.

The legendary mines of Cleopatra are believed to be among the earliest emerald mines on earth, and there is evidence of mining activity in this region as far back as 2000 B.C., centuries before the time of Cleopatra. Stones from these mines can still be seen today in jewelry recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs. These mines accounted for most of the emeralds supplied to the Western civilization for millennia, and they continued to prosper well into the eighteenth century. Finally, in 1750, the mines were believed to be exhausted and were abandoned. They remained dormant until the early part of the twentieth century when an effort was made to reestablish them as a source of supply. The experiment was a total failure, as the stones that were recovered were regarded as being of less than gem quality, and the mines were finally abandoned for good in the early 1920’s.

The Romans apparently mined for emeralds in the Australian Alps, where stones are sometimes still being discovered to this very day.

In 1830 Emeralds were discovered by a charcoal burner collecting wood along the Takovaya River in the Ural Mountains of Russia. They remain a source for Emeralds even today.

Today, there are a number of sources of supply for Emeralds, with those from Colombia generally being regarded as the finest, and unquestionably the largest. There have been as many as 100 emerald mines in operation there in the past. That does not mean, however, that you cannot get high-quality emeralds from other countries as well. Brazil is a major player in the market, as the emerald is its’ largest gem export. Additionally, India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Russia and even North Carolina, USA are all sources of supply of the beautiful green beryl.

To the Romans, the emerald symbolized the reproductive forces of nature and was dedicated to the goddess of love, Venus. Curiously enough, however, others thought the emerald to be an enemy of passion, when in the 13^th century, Albertus Magnus wrote that when King Bela of Hungary embraced his wife, his magnificent emerald broke into three pieces. The Christians supported this belief also: they believed it a gem that fortified moderation and control of the passions to its owners.

The Emerald is regarded as a powerful stone for all problems of impaired balance.

It is also used by certain cultures for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and vertigo.

Pliny the elder once wrote “When the eyes are weakened they are strengthened again by observing the emerald. The stone’s mild green color expels the weariness.” Today, fragments of emerald are still put in the corner of the eye to stabilize the vision.

Some believe it can be effective against headaches.

It is also credited with the pursuit of mental growth.

Emeralds are credited with the power to encourage easy childbirth. If it is bound to the hip, the child will come easily. If it is bound to the belly, it will be more difficult.

The Jewelry Channel brings you the finest emeralds from all across the world, direct from the sources, so that we can offer you the finest quality, at the lowest possible prices.

Be there this Wednesday, May 14^th from 4-8PM Central Standard Time, for a 4 hour emerald special, featuring the most spectacular designs in emerald jewelry available anywhere on television, or the internet.

See you there!

Dan Dennis