May Birthstones: Emerald

May birthdays – the emerald is your birthstone! Considered one of the ‘precious’ stones, the emerald has long been a favorite in gemstone jewelry. The finest emeralds are bluish green to strong, vivid green. Originally found in Egypt, emeralds from South Africa have been dated back 2.97 billion years (gia.edu). Emeralds can be found on many continents but most commonly Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Columbia, India, Madagascar, Russia and Zambia. Emeralds are 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs Hardness scale. Whether emerald is your birthstone, or your stone of choice, enjoy the beauty of this valued gemstone.