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The world's infatuation with the emerald began with Cleopatra during her reign as Queen of Egypt between 69 BC and 30 BC. She was often adorned in emeralds which made it clear to all around her that this was her most treasured jewel.
This legendary queen started a fashion trend surrounding this wonderful gemstone which has attracted an impressive array of the rich and famous throughout history who have keenly sought them.
Highly prized ever since, the emerald has never been out of favour, a fact that is supported in more recent times by emerald devotees including the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlene Dietrich and even Napoleon Bonaparte who chose them for his empress, Josephine. But it is Cleopatra who can rightfully claim to be history's most famous celebrity and champion of the emerald.
No emeralds belonging to Cleopatra have survived but she is known to have been completely captivated by them and historical accounts exist of her being draped in emerald encrusted mantles on occasions. The famous Emerald mines of Egypt, located in the hills inland from the Red Sea in Egypt's eastern desert region, were owned by Cleopatra.
Ancient miners braved extreme heat, scorpions and snakes to search for the "green fire." Cleopatra frequently indulged visiting dignitaries and diplomats from neighbouring countries by gifting these wonderful gems to them during their visits.
Emeralds belong to the gemstone family of beryl. Other well known members of this family are aquamarine, morganite and heliodor. Pure beryl is colorless in the emerald and the green color occurs only when chromium or vanadium are present.
So what is it that makes the emerald such a romantic stone?
To begin with, in ancient history it was associated with the goddess Venus - the goddess of beauty and love which gave it a headstart in the popularity stakes apart from anything else. Emeralds are much rarer than diamonds and only suitors of enormous wealth could bestow so priceless a gift on a lady.
Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May and the anniversary gemstone for the 20th and 35th year of marriage. This explains why a gift of emerald on these occasions is considered symbolic of love and devotion.
The intense brilliant green of the emerald symbolizes the renewing cycle of life and of springtime and even today this color retains a special status in many of the world's cultures and religions. Christianity for example regards it as the most significant of the liturgical colors being a symbol of faith, hope and resurrection.
Green is the color of nature, fertility and life. A field of green grass is the most restful color to the eye in nature. Green is a universally recognised color symbol around the world to represent safety. It is used widely in the corporate world as a branding color. George Washington, the first President of the United States favoured it above all other colors.
In recent years don't let's forget it became the signature color of Kermit the Frog, and Barbra Streisand played her part with "Evergreen."
But maybe 17th century Spanish priest, writer, poet and dramatist, Pedro Calderon de la Barca put it more succinctly, "Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."
However you relate to things 'green', the emerald when cut, polished and faceted has the most fabulous brilliance and depth which draws the human eye like bees to a honeypot.
But don't expect your emerald to come with a 'bargain-basement' sales tag. These beauties with the clearest surface and most vibrant colors, because of their rarity, are usually more valuable than a diamond of similar carat weight.
Becoming the purchaser or giver of such a rare treasure can set you back serious money unless like Cleopatra you have an interest in an emerald mine or two. But don't despair just yet since there is a way around that.
What if an emerald, like a few other precious jewels such as diamonds, rubies, saphires, topaz and others, could short-circuit the 'glitz' and the resulting price tag while still being certified and guaranteed was possible?
The good news is that it is not only possible but the key to finding out how is the subject of a new free report entitled 'Today's Diamonds' and all you need to find out about that is with one click of a well-trained mouse.
Cleopatra would have loved it.
