Category Archives: 5. May Birthstone Tidbits

A 25 Pound Emerald?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by mrahm

This story caught my eye this morning so I thought I’d share it with you. A 25 pound faceted green beryl has surfaced and is going up for auction soon. It is being called the largest faceted emerald in the … Continue reading →

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Trapiche Emeralds

Posted on June 1, 2011 by mrahm

I realize the calendar says June, but May slipped by before I could tell you about my favorite emeralds. This unique emerald is called a Trapiche emerald…pronounced Tra-pee-chee. Trapiche emeralds were first discovered in two Muzo mines in Colombia. They … Continue reading →

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Natural Emerald Sources

Posted on May 21, 2011 by mrahm

Natural emeralds come from a variety of sources. Often the color of an emerald CAN be in indicator of its origin, although color isn’t always a reliable factor in determining the emerald source. The largest supplier of emerald is Colombia. … Continue reading →

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Emerald Color Range

Posted on May 20, 2011 by mrahm

Emerald color varies from very strongly bluish green to green with a wide range of tone and saturation…some are dark, some are light…some look washed out while others are bright and vivid. As with most all colored stones the color … Continue reading →

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Science Project Faux Pas Yields Real Emerald

Posted on May 16, 2011 by mrahm

Did you know real emeralds can be grown in a lab? In 1938, after years of experimenting, US college student Carroll Chatham successfully grew the first gem-quality emerald. While Carroll was off in college, his chemistry experiment was left running … Continue reading →

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Emerald Sister To Aquamarine

Posted on May 12, 2011 by mrahm

I mentioned back in March that emerald and aquamarine are both members of the mineral species, Beryl. The color is the most obvious difference between emerald and aquamarine. Emerald ranges in color from strong bluish-green to light to very dark … Continue reading →

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Emerald History and Folklore

Posted on May 10, 2011 by mrahm

Emerald is the most prominent of green gemstones both in popularity and in value. Its rich green hue brings to mind the regeneration of life in spring and hope of new possibilities. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle for … Continue reading →

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