The word
Emerald comes from the Greek word smaragdos. Like aquamarines,
they are a form of beryl. Rather, like ruby, the word emerald was
used to describe all green stones up until the late 19th century.
In ancient times, emeralds were only found in Upper Egypt, where the
mines are now exhausted. Emeralds from the New World began to arrive
in Europe soon after Christopher Columbus made his historic trip across
the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. The first emeralds were pillaged from
tombs, within situ deposits not being found until 1537 in Columbia.
Like diamonds, they had to be shipped through Goa and sold as Oriental
gems in order to obtain the price of an emerald for them. Today, emeralds
are found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Pakistan, Russia and
Brazil. Like other precious stones, where an emerald is mined is most
important. Some of the most sought after emeralds in the world come
from Columbia, in particular the mines of Muzo and Chivor. However,
some of the world’s most important emeralds are set in 16th century
Indian jewelry. Originally thought to be mined in India, it is now
known that they were taken to India from Columbia, for re-exporting
to Europe. These emeralds are of better quality than those mined today,
the best mines having been exhausted many years ago. In the same way
that rubies can only be red, emeralds are only ever green in color.
However, the green may be different shades in different stones. Muzo
emeralds, for instance, are a rich, deep grass green, with a slight
yellow tinge and, simultaneously, a flash of blue. Lesser quality
emeralds are paler and lack depth or brilliance.
