May - Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. Emerald is among the most highly-prized gems. The name comes from the Greek "smaragdos" which means green stone. The most prized is pure grass green.
Emeralds are often characterized by a garden of included crystals trapped within, known as the "jardin", because under magnification you will see all sorts of lovely patterns resembling foliage in a garden. A flawless, clear emerald is very rare and is usually found in only small sizes. Small to medium sized stones are often faceted in the "step" or emerald cut. The gem is also lovely when cut into a cabochon or dome shape. Sometimes emeralds can even carved.
According to legend, the wearing of emerald not only cured a wide range of ailments, including low I.Q., poor eyesight and infertility, but also enabled the wearer to predict the future.
As part of the normal process most emeralds are immersed in colorless oil or resin so small voids are not as noticeable.
Do not use a home ultrasonic machine. Care should be taken to protect it from scratches, sharp blows, household chemicals, and extreme temperature changes.
