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Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
If you were born in May, or you love someone who was, this guide covers everything: what the birthstone for May actually is, what colour it is, why it matters, and how it has evolved from Egyptian queens to modern jewellery collections.
If an emerald speaks to you as a ring choice, the Emerald Rings collection includes gemstone options for couples who want something beyond the usual. We are based in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and have been helping people find rings they love for over 40 years.
The birthstone for May is the emerald.
May's birthstone colour is vivid green, typically described as bluish-green to pure green.
Emeralds belong to the beryl mineral family, the same family as aquamarine.
Their colour comes from traces of chromium, vanadium, or both.
Emeralds score 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale.
They are considered rarer than diamonds and are among the most valuable gemstones in the world.
Emeralds symbolise loyalty, new beginnings, love, and renewal.
They are also a traditional gift for 20th- and 35th-anniversary weddings.
The birthstone for May is the emerald. It has held that position for centuries, though not without interruption. During the medieval period, the emerald was briefly displaced from its association with May, but in 1912, the American National Association of Jewellers formally reinstated it. Since then, the emerald has been May's stone, and it is hard to argue with the choice.
May sits at the peak of spring. Everything is green, new, and beginning again. The emerald, with its rich verdant colour, fits the month as naturally as anything could.
May's birthstone is green. But calling it simply "green" does not do it justice.
The most prized emeralds show a medium to deep tone, with a colour that sits somewhere between pure green and bluish-green. That specific hue has become so recognisable that we now call it "emerald green" as a colour in its own right. It is one of the very few gemstones to have achieved that.
The colour comes from trace amounts of chromium, vanadium, or both within the stone's crystal structure. Iron can also be present, which pulls the colour slightly toward blue. The depth and saturation of that green is the primary factor in determining an emerald's value. A stone with a pale, washed-out tone will be worth considerably less than one with rich, vivid colour, even if the two are identical in every other way.
Unlike diamonds, where clarity is paramount, emeralds are understood by gemologists and jewellers to almost always contain inclusions. These are tiny fractures, gas bubbles, or mineral traces within the stone, and they are so common that they have their own term in French:jardin, meaning garden. A completely clear emerald is extraordinarily rare and commands exceptional prices.
The earliest known emerald mines date back to around 330 BC in Egypt, though geologists estimate that the stones themselves are billions of years old. The Egyptians were fascinated by emeralds. They used them in jewellery, in royal adornments, and in burial practices, placing them with the deceased as symbols of protection and eternal life.
Cleopatra's connection to emeralds is well documented. She claimed personal ownership of the Egyptian emerald mines and was rarely seen without them. To her, the stone was a symbol of power, status, and beauty. She reportedly gifted emeralds engraved with her likeness to foreign dignitaries.
In Roman and Greek tradition, emeralds were associated with Venus, the goddess of love and hope. The Romans believed the stone had restorative properties for the eyes. The ancient writer Pliny the Elder, who catalogued the natural world in the first century AD, wrote that no colour is greener than an emerald. He also noted that jewellers would gaze at emeralds to rest their eyes during close work. Interestingly, modern research has since shown that green does reduce eye strain, so Pliny may not have been far off the mark.
Before the Spanish colonisation of South America, both the Inca and Aztec civilisations considered emeralds sacred. The Spanish, who colonised Colombia in the 16th century, encountered emeralds of a quality and size that far surpassed anything previously known in Europe. Colombian stones, with their warm, pure green, quickly became the most sought-after in the world. They remain so today.
Emeralds have appeared in royal collections throughout history. Queen Elizabeth was honoured with the Greville Kokoshnik emerald tiara in 1942. Jackie Kennedy wore emerald jewellery. The stone has never gone out of fashion among those who can afford to choose anything.
Emeralds carry significant symbolic meaning, accumulated over hundreds of years across many cultures.
Love and loyalty. In ancient Rome, emerald rings were exchanged as tokens of love and faithfulness. That association with love has persisted into the present.
New beginnings and renewal. The colour green and the timing of May tie the emerald naturally to spring, growth, and fresh starts. It is considered a fitting stone for significant transitions.
Wisdom and foresight. Ancient folklore across multiple cultures held that emeralds could reveal truth and grant the wearer clarity of thought. Legend even suggested that holding an emerald would allow a person to see the future.
Calm and healing. Emeralds have been associated with stress relief and emotional balance. Several ancient traditions linked the stone to the heart and to a sense of peace.
Fertility and abundance. Particularly in ancient civilisations, emeralds were associated with growth, fertility, and prosperity.
Not every green stone is an emerald, and the distinction matters. Green beryl, for example, comes from the same mineral family but lacks the depth of colour required to be classified as an emerald. In the UK and Europe, a stone must owe its green colour to chromium or vanadium to be called a true emerald. Vanadium-coloured stones are sometimes called Colombian emeralds in common usage, but many gemologists classify them separately.
|
Gemstone |
Colour |
Hardness (Mohs) |
Typical Origin |
|
Emerald |
Medium to deep green, bluish-green |
7.5-8 |
Colombia, Zambia, Brazil |
|
Green Beryl |
Light green |
7.5-8 |
Various |
|
Peridot |
Yellow-green |
6.5-7 |
Egypt, USA, China |
|
Tsavorite Garnet |
Vivid green |
7-7.5 |
Kenya, Tanzania |
|
Green Tourmaline |
Wide range of green |
7-7.5 |
Brazil, Africa |
Of these, the emerald remains the most prized and historically significant. A fine Colombian emerald with strong colour and acceptable clarity commands prices that often exceed those of equivalent-weight diamonds.
The major sources of emeralds today are Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia. Colombian stones, particularly those from the Muzo and Chivor mines, are generally considered the finest in the world due to their warm, pure green colour with minimal blue or yellow tones. Zambian emeralds tend toward a slightly cooler, more blue-green colour and are also highly regarded.
Emeralds have historically been mined in Egypt, and smaller deposits exist in India, Austria, Zimbabwe, and the United States. The Egyptian mines, the oldest in the world, fell into disuse after the collapse of the ancient empires and were not rediscovered until the 19th century.
Emeralds are connected to both Taurus and Gemini, the two zodiac signs that fall within May. Taurus runs from roughly 20 April to 20 May, and Gemini from 21 May to 20 June.
The most straightforward occasion. An emerald gift for someone born in May carries both personal relevance and genuine beauty.
Emeralds are the traditional gemstone for both the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. If you are looking for anniversary jewellery that carries real meaning, an emerald ring or pendant is a strong choice.
we work with couples looking for bespoke anniversary pieces as well as ready-made options. You can browse our fine jewellery collection or visit us in the Jewellery Quarter to discuss something designed from scratch.
Emeralds are becoming a more popular choice for engagement and wedding rings, particularly among couples who want a stone that reflects their personality rather than a default choice. Their connection to love and loyalty makes them a genuinely fitting choice for a ring.
If that sounds like you, the emerald engagement rings are perfect for you.
Emeralds are relatively durable, with a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, but they require more careful handling than diamonds or sapphires. Most natural emeralds are treated with oils or resins to improve their appearance and fill surface fractures. That treatment is standard in the industry and nothing to be concerned about, but it does mean certain cleaning methods should be avoided.
Do:
Clean with warm water and a drop of mild soap, using a very soft cloth or brush.
Store in a fabric-lined box, away from harder gemstones that could scratch the surface.
Remove the ring for physical work, gardening, or any activity involving impact.
Avoid:
Ultrasonic cleaners can open existing fractures and damage the stone's oil treatment.
Steam cleaning, for the same reason.
Prolonged soaking in water.
Harsh chemicals, including bleach, chlorine, and acetone.
If your emerald jewellery needs a professional clean or you think a stone has been damaged, our jewellery repair team in Birmingham can assess and advise.
The birthstone for May is the emerald.
May's birthstone is green, specifically a medium to deep bluish-green or pure green. The exact shade varies by stone and origin, but the richest, most vivid greens are the most valuable.
High-quality natural emeralds with strong colour and good clarity can command higher prices per carat than diamonds of similar size. They are considered rarer than diamonds in top quality.
Yes, but with some care. Emeralds are durable enough for daily wear, but they should be removed during tasks that could cause impact or exposure to harsh chemicals. They are less hard than diamonds or sapphires, so a little extra care goes a long way.
Historically, agate has been recognised as an alternative birthstone for May, though the emerald is by far the more widely accepted and celebrated stone for the month.
They can make a beautiful choice for engagement rings, particularly for people who love colour and want something with a meaningful history. They do require slightly more care than a diamond, which is worth knowing before committing. A jeweller can advise on suitable settings that protect the stone.
Birthstone Rings: The Perfect Gift for Every Month - full guide to birthstones across all twelve months
Anniversary Gemstone Rings by Year - if you are marking a 20th or 35th anniversary with an emerald gift
A Guide to Engagement Ring Settings - understanding which settings work best for coloured gemstones, including emeralds
