May Birthstone: Origin, History, and Powers of the Emerald

Emerald is the birthstone for May. Ranging in color from light to deep green, emeralds were Cleopatra's favorite gemstones. Her admiration was so deep, she claimed the ancient Egyptian emerald mines as her own.

The word emerald derives from the Latin term "smaragdus", simply meaning green gem. Emeralds are from the beryl family of minerals that includes aquamarine, the March birthstone. Their color comes from small quantities of chromium.

Red emeralds are the most rare of this gemstone. They are so difficult to locate and cut, that jewelry containing red emeralds is prohibitively expensive.

May Birthstone: Origin of Birthstones

How certain stones came to be connected to specific months is cloudy. Some speculate the birthstone originates from Biblical times when a priest's breastplate was adorned with twelve different colored gems. Over time, the number twelve became connected to months of the year and to the zodiac.

People began wearing a different gem each month as a sort of talisman, believing each stone held certain powers. Gradually, specific gems became attached to specific months and zodiac signs. People then wore the gem associated with their birth month all year long.

Fast-forward hundreds of years to 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri. The American National Association of Jewelers created a birthstone list, assigning different stones to each month. The birthstone list was controversial because people thought it was developed purely for commercial purposes. Even so, it is accepted worldwide today as the definitive list of birthstones.

May Birthstone: History

Ancient Egyptians established emerald mines before Cleopatra's birth. Tools were discovered in the mines dating back to Ramses II, around 1300 B.C. Worn by Egyptian royalty, emeralds were also buried with the dead. Though beautiful, Egyptian emeralds were found to be lower quality once the Spanish discovered Columbian gems.