Emerald, the name of the green gemstone, comes from the ancient Greek word for green, "smaragdus." Owing to its alluring beauty and high value, the emerald has always been part of history. Let us see how emeralds have been cherished and worn throughout the ages.
Antiquity
Emeralds were first discovered in Egypt in the early 15th century B.C. It has been the world’s primary source of this stone. Historically, Egyptians regarded emeralds as sacred stones. The color had great importance to them. It went into the burial ground with the body as a symbol of eternity. It was only in the 16th century that they were discovered in South America. Since the same time as the Egyptians, Hindus have worshiped stone. It is believed that the Emerald name is derived from the Sanskrit language word "smarahato".
Ancient scholars had little knowledge of the chemical and physical properties of stones, so they associated them with color. It was recognized for its green color and not as a beryl mineral. It was associated with other green stones like peridot, tourmaline, green sapphire, and even common green quartz. Emerald had different names for different people. It was the mafek in Egypt, the smaragdus in Greece and Rome, and the zamarut in the Arab world. The names described were used for true emeralds or any green stone that looked like an emerald.
The emerald found then was of inferior color but of the highest quality compared to what it is today. They were small and had many imperfections in the form of inclusions and fractures. In spite of that, they were traded extensively to faraway places, and India was one of them. So many high-quality antique emerald jewels can be found in museums, state collections, and vaults. The antique and vintage ones are sold at very high prices due to their large sizes and the history attached to them.
The emperor's pliny used the stone in order to have a better view of gladiatorial competitions. Not only did it help to have clear vision, but it also faded the effect of the sun's light. Alexander the Great had an emerald on his belt. In history, emeralds have been used for medicinal, magical, and spiritual benefits.
Emeralds were used for inscriptions and used as sacarabs, and emerald beads were also part of the fashion. The very famous Spanish Inquisition necklace is made of diamonds and emerald stones in the form of hexagonal and cylindrical beads. It was worn in the Spanish and French courts. Green Island's ruler wore an emerald ring from 538 to 522 BC.
The Middle Ages
It was a dark age for Europeans with the fall of the Roman Empire. Hence, the Islamic scholars of the east were the ones actively working in the field of gemological investigation. They were the first to make a separation between medicinal and talismanic uses of emeralds and other stones. From here, the scientific approach also comes into play.
The 11th century Persian scholar al-Biruni divided emeralds into four different categories:
- Akhdar-murr: lustrous, resembling beet leaves.
- Bahri: like myrtle leaves, it is less lustrous than Akhdar murr.
- Maghribi: less lustrous, but very green. The majority of westerners like it.
- Asam: less lustrous than bahri, asam is hard and inexpensive.
The best one, according to him, was that which had lustre and came without any dots, white veins, or darkness.
People considered emeralds sacred, and they were an important part of religious and other ceremonies. Colombia had large deposits of emeralds and the muisca traded this gift of heritage for different things with different countries. It was their most important economic resource.
The church established a special significance for emeralds in medieval Europe. Stone’s mention comes several times in the bible. People believed it to be a healing agent. From the 12th to the 14th century, Christian clergy used gemstones for the healing of sick people. As they guarded the power of stone, they said only they understood the magic of the stone. It was then that the father of modern botany and zoology, the Dominican monk Albertus Magnus (c. 1193–1280), deeply studied lithotherapy and revealed that the stone has the ability to enhance memory and settle restlessness. He broke the concept that the emerald is a symbol of chaste love and said the stone can be damaged if exposed to uncontrollable passion.
The stone was massively used by Christian clergymen and European royals. King Philip announced emeralds and other precious gemstones as gifts for the winners of tournaments held.
During the middle ages, the cutting technology wasn’t that advanced, not even better than in ancient times, so they were usually made into cabochons. It was around the 14th century when Europe had to borrow stone cutting technology from India as Indian lapidaries had success in cutting symmetrical facets using their special crosswise cutting technique. Later, it spread quickly in Europe as well.
Modern History
Before this, emeralds were rare and were valued above diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. As Spain conquered Mexico, 200 pounds of emeralds, or half a million carats, were brought to Spain. Because of the huge number of emerald jewelry pieces coming to Europe, its price decreased and it didn’t remain rare any longer.
A Frenchman named Nicolas Louis Vauquelin published the first chemical analysis of the stone in 1798. Before that, the chemical and physical properties of the stone were unknown. It was then classified as the beryl variety, which helped people distinguish it from other green gemstones.
The U.S. and Japan are the largest importers of emeralds. It had a higher value than any other stone in America. Even some diamonds can cost more than diamonds. Major emerald cutting centers are India, Israel, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.
Emeralds are used and found in all kinds of jewelry. Emeralds have been the focal point of many stunning pieces of jewelry throughout history and into the modern and contemporary eras.
Jacques Joseph Ebelman, a French chemist, is the one who started the making of synthetic emeralds in 1848. And after one hundred years, Carroll Chatham began growing emeralds in his laboratory in 1938. Today, synthetic emeralds are made everywhere but under different trade names.
Emerald in a New Age
With the new age, emeralds have gained new significance and associations. Emerald activates the heart chakra and creates a balance of emotions. It is said to provide inspiration, wisdom, and strength. It also promotes harmony in relationships, marital bliss, and love of family and friends, as it enables the wearer to both give and receive love without hesitation. It is also meant to benefit in business transactions because the emerald promotes loyalty and honesty.
Emerald uplifts the spirit, rejuvenates the system, brings self-awareness and creates complete well-being. Along with that, it brings good health and longevity by eliminating toxins from the body. Your heart and kidneys get strengthened, and circulatory and neurological functions improve in the body.
Emerald has been associated with third eye chakra and thus it is believed that when held over in between the eyes, it promotes psychic sensitivity and clairvoyance. Mystics use the stone to gather wisdom from the spiritual planes. Also, they advice in order to have maximum benefit of Emerald, wear it near the heart, on the right arm, or on the little finger or ring finger.
Did you see how rich and significant this stone has been since the ancient age and continues to be life-transforming today by helping people overcome their current troubles and difficult situations? You can benefit from the stone by wearing it in the form of emerald jewelry like; emerald rings, emerald earrings, emerald necklaces, or emerald bracelets. This historical and timeless stone is a must have in your jewelry collection.
