Associated with Venus, the Goddess of Love, emeralds have long enamored the world of man. Full of hope, energy and love, the emerald represents harmony, beauty, joy and eternal love. The French word ‘esmeraude’ serves as the origin of the word emerald. Discovered first in Egypt at the Cleopatra Mines, it is a green coloured stone that today is mined in India, Columbia, Russia, Zimbabwe, Brazil and Zambia. Its many blemishes and flaws are considered are accepted in the industry. A good cut enhances the color and can be cut in different shapes viz. round, pear, oval, marquise, cabochon, square, emerald cut, step cut and many more. The emerald cut is actually rectangular step cut and is mostly used today.

Emerald

There are rare stones with the famed cat eye effect or six-rayed star. All stones are treated accordingly. Cavities are filled and then treated with oil or wax to hide fractures. Artificial emeralds are created by mixing aluminum oxide with chromium under high temperature and pressure. Other semi precious green stones are peridot, chrome diopside, tourmaline, zircon, hiddenite and green garnet.

Emeralds are set with all kinds of jewelry and very often paired with diamonds. It is also cut and polished into cabochons and beads