Emeralds

For hundreds of years, gemstones like the emerald have been favored by people because of their beauty, and mystic powers. Emeralds, with their spellbinding color unmatched by any other stone, accounts for the enduring appeal of the incredible gem. The emerald was the sacred stone of the goddess Venus and thought to preserve love. Folklore has it that it was the stone of prophecy and considered by many as the symbol of hope. There once was a time where only the very wealthy and royalty could afford to wear them. The emerald was a favorite, especially among royalty. Now it’s back as 2013’s Pantone Color of the Year.

The name “emerald” seems to have come from the Persian word for “green stone”. Beryl is the proper name for the emerald. An emerald in the right shade of green is considered to be more precious than a diamond due to the scarcity. Because of the way they grow, emeralds often contain inclusions; bubbles, healing cracks, “carbon” flecks, and foreign crystals. These are not necessarily faults, and they can indicate the genuineness of the stone. A perfectly clean emerald is almost unheard of! For thousands of years, almost all of emeralds came from Egypt. The Egyptian “Cleopatra’s Mines” were later mined by the Romans and the Turk

s and were in nearly continuous operation from about 330 B.C. to 1237 A.D. Today the emeralds come from Colombia and Brazil, but can also be found in India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Care instructions: Emeralds need special care as they brittle and sensitive to heat and pressure. You should avoid knocks and scratches. Never use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner for your emerald, but rather a soft toothbrush with a mild detergent.

Get with the Trend

A lot of people make it their business to stay up to date with the latest trends in fashion and luxury jewelry. It’s McCaskill and Company’s business to help all of you fashionistas stay up to date with our fashionable emerald jewelry, such as pieces from the Oscar Heyman and Gurhan collections.

McCaskill & Company

At McCaskill and Company we love keeping our customers styled with the latest trends. Not only do we offer emeralds in our gemstone and jewelry collections, but we are even located on the Emerald Coast within the premier vacation resort area of Northwest Florida. Our gallery is located at 13390 Highway 98 West, between Destin and Sandestin, just two miles east of the Mid-Bay Bridge. We are open Monday – Saturday, 10AM – 5:30PM (cst), so stop in or visit us online today!