May Birthstone: Emerald

About Emerald: the May Birthstone

The May birthstone is emerald, the green variety of the mineral beryl. Its color comes from trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. The most sought after emeralds show a vivid, pure green with no strong yellow or blue in it. Paler and bluer stones are more common, and a deep, saturated green is what most buyers mean when they ask for a fine emerald.

Emerald measures 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, which is hard by jewelry standards, but it is not a tough stone. Nearly every emerald has fine internal fractures from the way the crystal grew, and a sharp knock along one of them can chip the stone. For that reason most natural emerald is treated with a clear oil or resin that fills the fractures and makes them harder to see. This is standard across the trade. Ask about the treatment on any stone you are considering before you buy.

Setting matters more for emerald than for most birthstones. A bezel or a halo protects the edge of the stone, and the classic emerald cut has clipped corners for the same reason. In a ring, which takes the most knocks, a protective setting is the sensible choice. A pendant or a pair of earrings is exposed to far less. Yellow gold warms the green, while white gold and platinum give it a cooler look.

Why buy emerald from ATL Luxury Jewelry?

Our showroom is at 1905 Scenic Hwy N Ste 230, Snellville, GA 30078, and we have been open since 2008. Customers have left us 300+ five-star Google reviews. Color and visible fractures are hard to judge in a photo, so emerald is a stone worth seeing in person.

Cleaning, inspection and prong tightening are free in store, and engraving is free at purchase. Resizing, polishing and repairs are covered by our care plans. We design custom pieces with you in the showroom, so book a design consultation or call (704) 684-7530.