It's May already, the time for Emerald. Here's the lowdown on this precious stone.

Sakura Emerald Sterling Silver Ring by ADFK Jewellery

The name ‘Emerald‘ comes from

the greek word ‘smaragdos‘ through the

old french ‘esmeraude‘, and again latin

‘esmeralda‘, meaning ‘green gemstone‘.

Funny enough, in German

the greek word prevails: ‘smaragd‘.

The Incas and Aztecs, in whose former realm the best emeralds are still found today,

regarded the this precious stone as holy.

However, the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt.

These were already exploited by Egyptian Pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 b.c.

being referred to as the ‚Cleopatra‘s mines‘, and had been exhausted by the time they were

rediscovered in the early 19th century.

Emeralds can be more valuable than Diamonds.

The green of the Emerald is the colour of life and spring.

For centuries it has been the symbol of beauty and of constant love.

In ancient Rome, green was the colour of Venus, the goddess of beauty and love.

Part of my new Emerald collection is now on the website of ADFK Jewellery.