#jewelleryfacts365 264/365 Emerald fact

In Ancient Rome, Nero supposedly watched gladiator fights through a large transparent emerald as he found the color to be calming.

Rough emerald. I am sure, Nero had a much better quality piece, thugh :)

#jjewelleryfacts365 210/365 Emerald fact

The earliest reference to emeralds in Western literature come from Aristotle. He was a great fan of the gemstone and wrote that owning an emerald increases the owner’s importance in presence and speech during business, gives victory in trials, helps settle litigation, and comforts and soothes eyesight. (source)

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Sterling silver maple leaf earrings with emeralds

#jewelleryfacts365 164/365 Emerald fact

The Romans believed that emeralds with a pale hue were immature and would grow to a deeper, richer colour with age.

#jewelleryfacts365 123/365 Emerald fact

Records show that the stone was known and sold in markets in Babylon as early as 4000 BC.

Ancient Babylonian Gold griffon jewelry (source)

#jewelleryfacts365 116/365 Emerald fact

Emerald is the most famous member of the beryl family. Legends endowed the wearer with the ability to foresee the future when emerald was placed under the tongue, as well as to reveal truth and be protected against evil spells. Emerald was once also believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. (source)

The Hooker Emerald Brooch is an emerald brooch designed by Tiffany & Co.. As of 2010, the brooch is on display in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., United States.

#jewelleryfacts365 99/365 Emerald fact

The first known emerald mines were in Egypt, dating from at least 330 BC into the 1700s. Cleopatra was known to have a passion for emerald, and used it in her royal adornments. (source)

Ancient Egyptian emerald necklace

#jewelleryfacts365 98/365 Emerald fact

In the Peruvian city of Manta, about the time of the Spanish Conquest, an emerald the size of an ostrich egg was worshipped and adored as a goddess, bearing the name of Umina. The emerald was only brought out and worshipped on high feast days and, according to her priests, the best way to honor the ‘mother emerald’ was to bring smaller emeralds, or ‘daughters’, to her.(source)

A fine emerald in matrix from Chivor, Colombia

#jewelleryfacts365 97/365 Emerald fact

The emerald has long been known as the jewel of Kings, its rarity and beauty lending itself well to possession by royalty. As a talisman, it was said to have the ability to sharpen the wits, confer riches and power and to predict future events. It was also thought to strengthen the memory, which is a form of wit sharpening, and to enable the wearer to become an eloquent speaker, a kingly gift indeed. (source)

The world’s largest cut emerald

#jewelleryfacts365 94/365 Emerald fact

Pliny, the Roman scholar, was the first to suggest emerald was a family member of beryl. It was not until the early 19th century that science proved him right.

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Necklace with emeralds and sapphires

#jewelleryfacts365 83/365 Emerald fact

In some legends of King Arthur, the Holy Grail is described as being fashioned from an emerald.

#jewelleryfacts365 80/365 Emerald fact

The soothing green color of the emerald was thought to be restful to the eyes when they had been under much strain. This was such a common belief that gem workers would keep emeralds on their work bench for the special purpose of resting their eyes upon them after many hours of close work on other gems.(source)

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Emerald earrings