Emerald
Emeralds are gem-quality specimens of the beryl mineral family with a rich, distinctly green color. It has a chemical composition of Be3Al2(SiO3)6.
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Today, most emerald production originates in four source countries: Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.
For over 5000 years, emeralds have been one of the most desirable and valuable colored gemstones.
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Today emerald, together with ruby and sapphire, form the "big three" of colored stones. The value of imported emeralds also exceeded the value of all colored stones outside of the "big three" combined.
Trivia: As the gem of spring, emerald is the perfect choice as the birthstone for the month of May. It’s also the gem of the 20th and 35thwedding anniversaries.
Durability of Emerald
Emerald has a Mohs hardness of 7.5 to 8, which is normally a very good hardness for jewelry use.
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Even with that hardness, emerald has a durability issue. Most emerald contains numerous inclusions and surface-reaching fractures. These weaken the stone, cause it to be brittle, and make it subject to breakage.
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This is an expected characteristic of emerald. It is rare to find an emerald that does not have inclusions and surface-reaching fractures that can be seen with the unaided eye. Under low magnification, most emeralds are said to have a "garden" of these features.
To improve appearance, most cut emeralds are treated with oils that enter the fractures and make them less obvious
With that information, emerald should be considered a fragile stone that is best worn on special occasions rather than daily.
Emerald is better suited for earrings and pendants that are usually subjected to less impact and abrasion than rings and bracelets. Settings that protect the stone are much safer than those that present the stone to impact and abrasion.
Cleaning emeralds should be done carefully. Steam and ultrasonic cleaning can remove oils. A light washing in warm water with a mild soap is safer for cleaning and should be done only when needed.