Emerald: History & Analysis of a Famous Green Gem

The Emerald is a rich green stone that can be more valuable than a diamond of the same size. Emeralds are part of the beryl family of precious stones. They have a hardness of 8 to 10 on the Mohs scale. The green color is caused by the traces of chromium and iron in the mineral. The luster of the mineral is considered to be pearly or vitreous. Emerald is considered a gem, or a mineral that …

…this case the famous emerald cut was designed specifically to reduce the large amounts of pressure while cutting it. There are many historical facts present for the gemstone emerald. It was used in many different ways during ancient times for various rituals in various cultures. Today its main purpose is to serve as a showpiece or ornamental jewelry. Many different cultures possessed the emerald such as the ancient Egyptians, Romans & Greeks, Indian Moguls.