Gem of the Week: The Elegant Emerald

Fleur de Lis Emerald Ring, 1850, from The Three Graces

The emerald is a member of the beryl family of minerals and gets its famous green color from chromium. Emeralds have long been celebrated for their beauty and depth of color. Finding a “clean” emerald is a difficult task these days. Most emeralds are heavily included—meaning that other, unwanted minerals become trapped in the stone during the formation of its crystals. These inclusions dull the color and clarity of the stone. The clearer the stone, the more valuable the emerald.


The Egyptians were among the first to mine and prize the emerald, often making it the centerpiece of their jewelry. At the time, stones without inclusions which exhibited excellent clarity were judged as being “as clear as water.” The standard of an emerald’s “water” remained a concept that was employed well into the twentieth century. The birthstone for May, the emerald has long been considered to have mystical and enchanting properties. So much so that L. Frank Baum called the kingdom of his great Wizard of Oz, “The Emerald City.” Victorian jewelers were particularly fond of the emerald because of its color and the natural association of the color green with nature.

Today, fine emeralds are among the most valuable of gemstones. If you’re a jewelry collector, save up your money and spend it on an emerald of the best clarity that you can find. The value will only increase over time.