Learning about Emeralds
My favorite Hobby
More than a passion, emeralds are a culture
Emerald’s lush green has soothed souls and excited imaginations since antiquity.The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments.
Emeralds from what is now Colombia were part of the plunder when sixteenth-century Spanish explorers invaded the New World. The Incas had already been using emeralds in their jewelry and religious ceremonies for 500 years. The Spanish, who treasured gold and silver far more than gems, traded emeralds for precious metals. Their trades opened the eyes of European and Asian royalty to emerald’s majesty.
The gem cutter's art is arguably the most complex, but also the most important part of the process; it serves to highlight the color and brightness of the stone, by selecting the ideal shape and optimal facet count. The right proportions, symmetry and finish exalt the gem's beauty.
Sources: