We love how a clear, depthless emerald captivates the senses with its purity, the perfect embodiment of the very concept of green. But there’s also great beauty in what some would consider imperfection, and nothing exemplifies this better than the character and individuality of a heavily included emerald.
Inclusions are materials that get trapped inside the crystal during formation. They can appear as streaks or bubbles of gas or other minerals. They’re often seen as flaws in other gemstones, but they only add to the beauty of an emerald. The unique inclusion patterns of emeralds are referred to as “jardin,” for up close they resemble the layered, complex foliage of a lush garden.
The presence or absence of jardin makes each emerald unique. As creators of hand-crafted jewelry, we strive to capture a moment of beauty in each piece. We’re inspired by the beauty of nature, and emerald jardin gives the impression of an entire forest captured in a thumbnail, the perfect complement to a nature-inspired piece of jewelry.
While the oldest emerald mines were found in Egypt, the ancient Egyptians maintained vast trade networks and traded emeralds as far as the cities of the Indus Valley, in western India. Since then, the mysterious beauty of the emerald has fascinated people across cultures and throughout history. Those ancient Egyptian mines have long since dried up, and today the most beautiful emeralds come from Colombia.
Rich Green Emerald
Emerald is the rich green form of the mineral beryl. Other varieties of beryl are aquamarine (blue-green), heliodor (golden), goshenite (clear), and morganite (pink). Emerald stands apart from these other beryl gemstones for its deep, intriguing color. It’s not the only green variety of beryl, as there is also a form of beryl that is simply known as green beryl. While green beryl has its own lively beauty, it pales in comparison to the richness of emerald’s green, which is why we say the emerald seems to be the solid embodiment of the color green itself.
It seems that the first people to admire an emerald likely agreed. The English word “emerald” comes from the Greek word σμάραγδος (smaragdos), which itself is derived from the Sanskrit word मरकत (marakata), which means “green.” Is there a better name for emerald than simply “green”?
Aside from their captivating beauty, emeralds have deep spiritual significance, as well. It is one of the Navaratna gems, the nine precious stones in the dharmic traditions of India (Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism).
Emeralds regulate the planet, Mercury, granting the wearer mental control, enhancing memory and communication skills. Its distinctive shade of green also made it an important gemstone in Islam, as green is associated with paradise. When gazing into an emerald and feeling at peace in its presence, it is easy to see why.
