Emerald: The May Birthstone is a Great Pick for Summer!
Why focus on the May birthstone on the last day of the month? Because the emerald is an excellent gemstone for summer! Its vivid color perfect captures the life-filled feeling of the coming season, making emerald jewelry a fabulous pick this time of year.
The very word “emerald” is synonymous with a saturated, vivid green, so much so that it inspired the name of Pantone’s 2013 color of the year in 2013. Emerald—both as a color and as a gemstone—is still making a big splash in 2014.
Of course, as much as the emerald is on trend, the timelessness of this gem shouldn’t be overlooked: from Cleopatra to Elizabeth Taylor, women throughout history have adored this gemstone. For thousands of years, the emerald has been admired for its colorful sparkle: it’s mentioned several times in the Old Testament and as early as 3000 B.C., the Egyptians were mining this precious gem. Over a millennia later, Pliny the Elder of Rome wrote about the emerald, saying “nothing greens greener.”
The enduring beauty of the emerald makes it an excellent pick for styles inspired by the past such as the Vintage Style Emerald and Diamond Engagement Ring. This stunning style brings a wealth of Victorian charm to the present as it showcases a 5mm round emerald in a positively dazzling design. A grand total of 64 accent diamonds in varying sizes (over a third carat in all) work in harmony with delicate beaded accents to form glittering lines and curves that creating a dancing backdrop for this vintage ring. It’s next to impossible to deny the glamour of this standout style.
The emerald’s versatility allows it to perfectly accent a wide range of styles, bringing a rich burst of colorful sparkle to any piece it adorns. From simple to elaborate, emerald rings of any style are stunning thanks to the vivid green sparkle of the gemstone they showcase. If you’d prefer a ring that keeps the focus strictly on this gorgeous gem, try a solitaire or three-stone style that features this stone’s green beauty.
If simple styles with an interesting twist are up your alley, the Tension Set Garnet Ring in 14K White Gold is one ring not to miss. This unique piece hugs a round 6.5mm emerald in a gleaming tension setting that curves to embrace it on the top and the bottom. Although it appears that this ring’s single gem is floating in midair, this emerald is quite secure as it’s accented by the graceful curves of this contemporary white gold design.
Simple styles like this keep the focus on the emerald’s sparkle and vivid color, a result of trace amounts of vanadium and chromium. The May birthstone is the most precious member of the beryl family of gemstones, and though you probably wouldn’t guess it from looks alone, the emerald is actually related to birthstone for March: the aquamarine.
The word emerald literally means “green gemstone,” and its color makes it an ideal pick when you want to celebrate something that’s full of life—like your relationship with the one special someone. Whether you’re celebrating love that’s new and that makes your heart sing or a bond that’s decades old, an emerald ring can help you tell the one you care about most that she makes your heart come alive.
An emerald engagement ring isn’t a traditional pick, but it’s a great option when you’d like to propose with a symbol of life-filled love. A style like the Enchanted Emerald Ring in 14K White Gold can serve as an emblem of a bond that will grow continually stronger as the years go by, making it a continual reminder of the increasing magnitude of your love. This antique-style ring surrounds a 4.5mm round emerald with a setting that calls to mind a Victorian tapestry. It’s also available with a coordinating wedding band as part of the Antique-Style Emerald Wedding Ring Set.
The emerald is also an excellent option when celebrating an anniversary. In fact, it’s mentioned twice on the list of traditional anniversary gemstones: once for the 20th anniversary and again for the 35th. A ring like the Emerald and Diamond Channel Band in 14K White Gold, which alternates channel-set emeralds and diamonds in a sleek white gold band, would be a lovely way to mark an anniversary, though it’s also a great pick for the right hand.
Silver emerald rings make the beauty of the emerald more affordable, and the Vintage Art Deco Emerald Ring in .925 Sterling Silver is a stylish example. This piece brings the class of the 1920s to life as lines of gleaming sterling silver point the way to a 4mm round emerald.
If you’re looking for the perfect emerald piece to give as a gift, try a pair of versatile emerald studs like the Emerald Stud Earrings in 14K White Gold, a pair that would be appreciated by nearly any lady. Or try the 1 Carat Emerald and Diamond Halo Stud Earrings in 14K White Gold, which surrounds 5mm round emeralds with frames of glittering diamonds.
An emerald pendant is also a great gift for any special person on your list—or for you. For example, the Oval-Cut Emerald and Diamond Cross Pendant 10K White Gold is a lovely option for anyone who continually seeks to grow in faith, thanks to the oval-shaped emerald that adorns the center of this shining cross.
All summer long, the greenest of green gems is a stunning pick! Pieces of emerald jewelry are celebrations of life—not to mention spot-on gorgeous.