Verdure... flourishing greenness.. eternal youth...

Cleopatra prized her emeralds more than any other gem. The ancient mines of Cleopatra, long a mystery, were discovered again a hundred years ago near the Red Sea. Some tools found in the mine were dated at 1650 B.C. but no quality emeralds were found: the mines were exhausted thousands of years ago.

Mummies in ancient Egypt were often buried with an emerald on their necks carved with the symbol for verdure, flourishing greenness, to symbolize eternal youth.

When choosing an emerald, the most important value factor to consider is color. The more vivid the green, the more valuable the emerald. Because emeralds are so rare without inclusions, some inclusions are expected and do not detract from the value of the stone as much as with other gemstones. The fissures and fractures that are characteristic of emerald are traditionally filled with oil to minimize their impact.

Many people consider Colombia to be the best source of emeralds, however, country of origin is never a guarantee of quality. Fine emeralds are also mined in Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, and Russia. Emerald is most often shaped in a rectangular step cut now commonly referred to as the emerald cut. Smaller sizes are also found in rounds, ovals, pear shapes and marquise cuts.

Avoid cleaning emerald with hot soapy water or steam and never use an ultrasonic cleaner. These cleaning efforts could remove the oil, thereby making the fissures more visible. Instead use lukewarm water and a mild, nonabrasive soap.

Emeralds are durable gemstones, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8. Diamonds, the hardest substance on earth, are rated at 10. However, emeralds are internally stressed due to the higher frequency of inclusions and should be protected from blows. With a little care, your emerald will no doubt be treasured by your descendants for generations to come!

Specific gravity - 2.65 to 2.85 Hardness - 7.00 to 7.50 It is NOT recommended to clean emeralds in the ultrasonic or steam cleaner.