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May Birthstone: A Complete Guide to the Emerald Birthstone
五月生日石:历史、意义和象征意义
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Those born in May are blessed with the gorgeous green emerald as their traditional birthstone.

The month of May was called Maius in ancient times, likely for the Roman goddess of growth or the Greek goddess of nursing mothers, both named Maia. Ancient Romans also celebrated Floralia in May, a festival honoring the goddess of flowers Flora.

Today, the month of May celebrates mothers, workers, and the rewards of hard work — as they say, “April flowers bring May flowers!”

The May birthstones have even richer history and meanings, which we’ll crack into today as we cover the meanings, properties, and value of emeralds. We’ll also go over some alternative May birthstones!

emerald may birthstone

Historical & Cultural Significance of May Birthstone: Emerald

FIrst, what was the original birthstone for May? It depends on who you ask!

Based on the Biblical origins of birthstones, the Hebrew interpretation for May’s birthstone was agate, while the Arabic interpretation was emerald.

In 1870, Tiffany & Co published a pamphlet of “Gregorian Birthstone Poems,” kicking off modern formalized birthstone lists. The March birthstone poem was:

Who first beholds the light of day

In spring’s sweet, flower month of May

And wears an Emerald all her life

Shall be a loved and a loving wife.

The first modern standardized birthstone list, created by the National Association of Jewellers (now Jewellers of America) in 1912 lists emerald as the May birthstone.

The British 1937 list from the National Association of Goldsmiths, along with the version updated in 2013, lists emerald as the traditional May birthstone and chrysoprase (another chalcedony variety like agate) as an alternative.

Why is emerald associated with May?

The Biblical gemstone lists that inspired birthstones listed emerald (in some translations) fourth, corresponding to the fourth month of the year.

But emeralds also reflect the ideals of May: rebirth, growth, prosperity, and fertility. These interpretations of emerald, among others, go back centuries.

ancient byzantine necklace with egyptian emeralds and pearlsPictured above: 5th century gold Byzantine necklace with pearls and Egyptian emeralds | Image credit: Walters Art Museum, Public domain

Ancient Emerald History & Mythology

Records of emerald mining date back to ancient Egypt around 1900 to 1500 BC. Egypt remained the primary emerald source until Colombia took over in the 16th century AD.

Ancient names for the stone include:

  • Bwyrq — Egyptians, “to sparkle”

  • Barq — Arabs, “flashing”

  • Baraket — Hebrews, “flashing gem”

Ancient Egyptians considered green sacred, symbolizing agricultural fertility and immortality. Queen Cleopatra famously loved emeralds, adorning herself and her palace with the May birthstone. In fact, in 330 BC, she took exclusive rights to all emeralds mined in Egypt.

Egyptian beliefs about emeralds included the stone granting immortality in the afterlife — often placed in pharaoh’s graves to ensure this — and improving eyesight.

Ancient Greeks and Romans saw emeralds as manifestations of gods and goddesses, particularly as symbols of everlasting love associated with Aphrodite (Venus).

Besides Egyptians, ancient Indians also revered emeralds.

The Sanskrit name for emerald was either marakata, meaning “the green of growing things,” or smarahato, meaning “green.” In fact, the word “emerald” likely derived from an ancient Persian word translated into Latin as smaragdus (meaning “green stone”) before eventually being altered to “emerald.

Ancient Indians referenced emeralds in many religious texts. Written around 1500 to 1200 BC, the oldest Sanskrit and Hindu scripture, The Vedas described emeralds as being lucky and promoting well-being.

In Vedic astrology, emerald or panna is connected to the planet Mercury and believed to boost intellect.

Famous pieces of Indian architecture feature emeralds, like the exquisitely carved “Taj Mahal Emerald” and the carving of goddess Meenakshi created from a single emerald crystal displayed at the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

Lastly, Incas and Aztecs had many legends about emeralds.

One was that the May birthstone formed from an ancient princess’s tears. Another was that the heart of the goddess of good health, Umina, became a huge emerald when she died. They used emeralds for jewelry and religious rituals, often placing the gem in burial mounds.

emerald buddha carving in singaporePictured above: Emerald Buddha, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Singapore | Image credit: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand, CC-BY-SA-2.0

Emeralds in Royal & Noble Heritage

The association between emeralds and royalty increased over time. European royals and nobles started wearing the May birthstone more during the Renaissance.

You can learn more about these royal emeralds in our guide to 7 famous emeralds.

Some emeralds not mentioned in that guide:

  • Emerald ring given by Pope Innocent III to King Richard the Lionhearted or King John around 1200 AD

  • Holy Grail of Arthurian lore, said to be made of emerald and possess various powers

  • Tiara with emerald centerstone given by Napoleon Bonaparte to Pope Pius VII in 1804

  • Vladimir Tiara, made for Russian Grand Duchess Vladimir and sold to Queen Mary I in 1921, who added her own 15 Cambridge emeralds

  • “Emerald” Buddhas, a sacred 15th century carving of Gautama Buddha made of jadeite and a 2006 version carved from a single 3,600-carat emerald

The May birthstone also has various pop culture references, like:

  • Emerald City featured in the 1900 L. Frank Baum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the 1939 film adaptation

  • “Emerald Isle” nickname for Ireland

  • Emerald Tablet, a legendary text said to contain universal and alchemic secrets

  • Rockefeller Emerald, the largest flawless emerald and most expensive emerald ever sold at $5.5 million USD

Despite their prestige, emeralds still form in the Earth like any other mineral!

rough light green emerald crystal

Geological Marvel: The Formation of Emeralds

Emeralds are varieties of beryl, a beryllium aluminum silicate mineral. They have pretty high hardness at 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale.

The May birthstone’s color comes from impurities of chromium, vanadium, or both. Part of emerald’s rarity is that beryllium is rarely present in the same area as chromium or vanadium.

In terms of where emeralds are found, Colombia is top-dog, producing 50 to 95 percent of the world’s emeralds. The second top source is Zambia, producing around 20 percent of the world’s gem-quality emeralds.

Colombia and Zambia are known for distinctive emerald colors.

faceted zambian emerald birthstone with pear shapePictured above: Faceted Zambian emerald

Mesmerizing Green: Understanding Emerald's Color Spectrum

Ever wondered, what is my birthstone color if I was born in May? Green! But the exact shade of green in emeralds varies. Undertones of yellow or blue are common, and tones or saturation levels vary.

Different distinctions between true emeralds and green beryl vary based on the coloring impurities and shade.

There are many types of emeralds, some distinguished by their color and source and other distinguished by optical phenomena:

  • Colombian Emerald: Most prized in deep green color from high chromium and low iron impurities; Prized for rarity and beauty, especially the Gota de Aceite emeralds variety with roiled appearance

  • Zambian Emerald: Bluish-green, darker than Colombian, usually less included than Brazilian

  • Brazilian Emerald: Light green, usually yellowish, less transparent than Colombian, usually included

  • Trapiche Emerald: Naturally formed radial pattern with 6 black spokes resembling a wheel

  • Star Emerald: Displays a multi-rayed “star” of reflected light via asterism

  • Cat’s Eye Emerald: Displays a single ray of reflected light via chatoyancy

The best emerald gemstones are bluish-green with medium-dark tones and heavy saturation, but color is just one factor of this May birthstone’s value.

faceted colombian emerald birthstone with oil treatmentPictured above: Faceted Colombian emerald with mild oil treatment

The 4 Cs: Evaluating Emerald Quality

When grading or certifying the emerald birthstone, gemologists prioritize color, then clarity, followed by cut, carat weight, and treatments.

Color

Most gemologists only classify green beryl as emerald if it has a primary green hue and medium to dark tone. High saturation and purer green colors mean higher value.

Clarity

These May birthstones are Type 3 colored gemstones, meaning visible inclusions are almost always present. As such, emeralds without inclusions visible to the naked eye are quite valuable.

Many heavily included emeralds appear cloudy. There are many types of emerald inclusions. Often, emeralds are treated to improve their clarity.

Cut

The best emeralds are faceted well to maximize color and uniformity, since the stone’s dispersion is rather low.

Many of these May birthstones are faceted with the “emerald cut,” a table cut developed in the 1500s for emeralds to prevent chips or cracks while emphasizing the stone’s color.

Lower-quality emeralds or emeralds with optical effects are cut into cabochons.

Carat Weight

Like other precious gemstones, emerald’s price-per-carat will increase with larger sizes.

Treatments

Most emeralds are treated via oiling, which improves clarity, durability, and sometimes color by filling in cracks. Lapidarists may use oils, polymers, or epoxy resins for the treatment.

Grading labs will categorize the level of enhancement as none, minor, moderate, or highly enhanced.

faceted emerald gemstone pendant necklace

Beyond Aesthetics: Emeralds' Symbolism and Mystique

Emeralds are associated with growth, rebirth, and fertility, just like the spring season. The May birthstone meaning also extends to loyalty, friendship, and good luck.

Faithfulness

In Greek mythology, emeralds depicted love and wearing them protected couples from being unfaithful. People believed that an emerald would glow brighter when worn by a pure heart. If the shade faltered from its true green then the wearer was thought to be unfaithful.

Friendship

Similar to faithfulness, emeralds depict the unconditional loyalty between friends. Some friends choose to wear emerald friendship bracelets to symbolize their bond.

Good Luck

Mughal emperor and creator of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, inscribed scriptures into emerald talismans. In the Veda, the Hindu text, emeralds are described as the gem of good luck, capable of improving a person’s wellbeing. In Chinese culture, certain days of the week bring good luck to those wearing emeralds.

As a healing stone, some of emerald’s most touted benefits include improving vision, cleansing the body of illness, and facilitating clairvoyance, especially when used as a third eye chakra stone.

The Ethical Emerald Pursuit

Like the ethical dilemmas surrounding conflict diamonds, many conscious consumers worry about the labor conditions and sustainability of emerald mining.

A major factor of knowing if an emerald was ethically sourced is knowing where it came from, or “transparency of provenance.” That means working with reputable, properly vetted suppliers and industry associations.

Luckily, it’s easier to identify an emerald’s origin than a diamond’s, especially with processes like the Emerald Paternity Test created by Gemfields and Gübelin Gem Lab.

Another possible workaround is opting for synthetic emeralds, which are lab-created with all the same physical and chemical properties of natural emeralds.

Synthetic emeralds lack the hazardous labor conditions of obtaining natural emeralds, with a significantly lower environmental impact.

Plus, synthetic emeralds are much more affordable than natural emeralds!

Speaking of alternatives, are there multiple birthstones for May? According to some sources, yes!

agate cabochon alternative may birthstonePictured above: Agate cabochon

Alternative May Birthstones

The list of May birthstones and crystals doesn’t end at emerald. For one, agate is actually the original May birthstone in many historical interpretations.

Of course, the chalcedony variety chrysoprase is listed as an alternative May birthstone in many lists. Nicknamed the “Stone of Joy,” chrysoprase is a lighter apple green gem perfect for Gemini signs.

Among the mystical birthstones, a list rooted in Tibetan astrology, sapphire is the May birthstone. This corundum variety is another precious gemstone with an array of colors suited to any May-born Taurus sign’s taste.

You can also get a more affordable May birthstone with these emerald substitutes:

So, how do you use these May birthstones?

Personalized May Birthstone Gifts & Celebration

Birthstone jewelry is a meaningful gift to celebrate a loved one, and emerald May birthstone jewelry can be customized, simplified, or elaborated to match the person’s personality.

Whether emerald, agate, or another birthstone, here are some May birthstone gift ideas:

  • May birthstone ring with an emerald-cut emerald

  • Earrings featuring emeralds and chrysoprase

  • Necklace featuring May birthstone and the gift-giver’s birthstone

  • Charm bracelet with May birthstone and other personalized charms

  • Watch with encrusted May birthstone

  • Watercolor print of May birthstone with its properties

For many cultures, emeralds represent rebirth. We can think of no better way to march into your next year of life than with a renewing (and radiant) emerald gemstone!

hand wearing emerald ring

Come What May, May Birthstones are Timeless!

May is the peak of flourishing flora, and the May birthstone emerald parallels that natural beauty. But unlike the ever-changing seasons, May birthstones are charming tokens perfect for any time of year!

Does emerald, agate, or another May birthstone suit your fancy?

Find traditional and alternative May birthstones from our hundreds of gemstones available!



5 月 5 日生日石 - 祖母绿五月出生的人有幸拥有一颗最受欢迎的宝石作为他们每月的诞生石:翡翠!五月生日石不仅仅是一颗华丽的宝石,它还是文学、童话和民间传说的装饰装置。

从神秘的护身符到装饰从希腊神灵到印加人的文化人物的古代护身符——祖母绿交织在闪闪发光的历史织物中。很容易看出为什么每个人都喜欢祖母绿!毕竟,埃及女王克娄巴特拉用祖母绿供奉自己。

因此,无论您是想为自己购买祖母绿还是作为礼物送给他人,我们都可以帮助您了解有关五月生日石的所有信息。让我们一起探索吧!

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAC23p6nm70

五月生日石历史

祖母绿开采的历史可以追溯到公元前 4000 年的古巴比伦。直到公元前 330 年,埃及女王才在整个埃及祖母绿矿上建立了据点。没错,埃及最有权势的女人想要拥有所有祖母绿的专有权——她得到了。

为什么祖母绿能吸引女王?克利奥帕特拉并不是唯一一个痴迷于色彩丰富的绿色石头的人。古希腊人和罗马人将祖母绿视为众神和女神的象征。从金星到阿芙罗狄蒂,祖母绿体现了希腊皇室的纯洁、多产、美丽和爱。

走出神话,祖母绿同样受到阿兹特克人和印加人的喜爱。由于西班牙征服者突袭了这些矿场,哥伦比亚的 Muzo 矿基本上将南美祖母绿放在了全球地图上。

最终,哲学家亚里士多德将祖母绿带入欧洲和西方主流,他写道,拥有祖母绿可以提升一个人的地位、健康和财富。

五月生日石五月生日石的意义和象征意义

祖母绿有很多含义,但最突出的是,它们象征着友谊和忠诚。祖母绿的象征意义源于其丰富的神话和宗教根源。

忠诚

在希腊神话中,祖母绿描绘了爱情,佩戴祖母绿可以保护夫妻不忠。人们相信,一颗纯洁的心佩戴祖母绿会更亮。如果阴影从其真正的绿色摇摇欲坠,则认为佩戴者不忠。

友谊

与忠诚相似,祖母绿描绘了朋友之间无条件的忠诚。一些朋友选择佩戴翡翠友谊手镯来象征他们的纽带。

祝你好运

莫卧儿皇帝和泰姬陵的创造者沙贾汗将经文刻在翡翠护身符上。在吠陀,印度教文本中,祖母绿被描述为好运的宝石,能够改善一个人的福祉。在中国文化中,一周中的某些日子会给佩戴祖母绿的人带来好运。

五月诞生石治疗特性

祖母绿具有很高的象征意义,但您是否知道五月生日石也具有强大的治疗功效?没错 - 祖母绿的意义远不止于此!

佩戴祖母绿被认为能给佩戴者带来治愈效果,这就是为什么它是您生命中五月生日的绝佳礼物!

许多人认为凝视祖母绿可以改善视力。这种信念源于古代苏美尔人,他们的人们认为在左手小指上佩戴祖母绿可以最大限度地减少眼睛炎症。当人们将祖母绿压碎成用于滋润眼睛的粉末时,这种信念更进一步。

祖母绿是一种重要的清洁石,用于清除体内的杂质和感染。祖母绿直接连接到身体内的多个经络,据说可以最大限度地减少头痛、高血压、发烧和哮喘等身体疾病。

五月生日石也具有形而上学的治疗特性。祖母绿有助于避免负面能量,邀请稳定能量、和谐与平衡。

拥有如此丰富的象征意义和治愈能力,难怪每个人都喜欢祖母绿!正如您所料,这种迷人的宝石可以制成美丽的珠宝。

清洁和保养您的五月生日石

为确保您的五月生日石始终处于最佳状态,您应该用温肥皂水和软布轻轻清洁它。

为避免损坏您的五月生日石,请确保切勿使用蒸汽或超声波清洁器对其进行清洁。

五月生日石首饰

由于祖母绿具有治疗作用,因此许多人选择将其佩戴在首饰中。很容易看出为什么埃及艳后、伊丽莎白泰勒、戴安娜王妃和许多其他著名人物都炫耀着闪闪发光的祖母绿!

五月生日石可以精美地点缀项链、耳环和戒指。一种流行的款式是佩戴祖母绿切割祖母绿戒指!佩戴祖母绿不仅体现了古老的传统、宗教象征和文化意义,而且看起来非常华丽。

对于许多文化来说,祖母绿代表着重生。我们想不出比使用更新的(和光芒四射的)祖母绿宝石更好的方式来进入您的下一个生命!

结论

这就是我们关于五月生日石的指南。如果您想了解更多关于这种流行宝石的信息,请在此处阅读我们关于祖母绿的完整指南。如果您想为自己或作为礼物购买祖母绿,请单击以下链接之一。

选购祖母绿


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