May Birthstone

Emerald is the birthstone for May. A fine emerald must possess a grassy green hue and very transparent to be considered a top gem. Unlike a diamond where the loupe standard of 10x magnification is used to grade, emeralds are graded by eye. Therefore, if there are no visible characteristics, it is considered flawless. Emeralds are said to be a symbol of rebirth and are thought to bring an owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. Emeralds were said to be mined in Egypt as early as 33 B.C. and are currently mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Afghanistan today. High-quality emeralds are rare so there are treatments used on them to increase their quality.