addition, the emerald supposedly changes color when a person is in the company of a false friend.
During the ancient times, philosophers used emeralds to see a glimpse of the future. Seeing the future, of course, is an impossible notion today. But emeralds are still worn to obtain wisdom and to exercise foresight. The ancient traders also wore emeralds to attract vast amounts of fortune. Today, modern entrepreneurs use emeralds to be successful in all their endeavors.
History of the Emerald
Emerald was mined as early as 2,000 B.C. but the origin of the name is vague. One historian claimed that emerald might come from the Greek word "smaragdos," which simply means a green stone. With such a humble name, the emerald has risen to the greatest heights of prominence.
Great Alexander sponsored the mining of emeralds. Cleopatra later owned the same mines. In Asia, specifically in India, the powerful Moguls regarded emeralds as the greatest of all gemstones. The Shah Jahan, the ruler who built the Taj Mahal for his beloved wife, wore an emerald for a talisman, and emeralds are also used in ancient India's sacred texts.
Modern Significance of the Emerald
Today, emerald is still the most precious of all gemstones. The emerald has been assigned as the modern birthstone for the birth month of May, the month of summer and love. Emerald is also the mystical birthstone for the birth month of January. In astrology, emerald is the birthstone for those born under the zodiac sign of Taurus the Bull. An emerald necklace or an emerald ring is a superb gift for the 20th, the 35th, and the 55th wedding anniversaries.
Emerald Jewelry
Emeralds may exist in several colors, but in the realm of jewelries, it is the green color that is valued highly. When choosing emeralds, a buyer should look for that unmistakable deep sparkling green. This green color, however, can be easily lost when the emerald jewelry is exposed to high temperatures.
