EMERALD
Emerald is the most precious stone in the beryl group. The name comes from the old French word
'esmeralde', which was derived from the Greek word 'smaragdos' meaning 'green stone'. By
definition, emerald is any medium to dark green beryl colored by chromium. Green beryl colored only
by vanadium is not considered to be true emerald, but rather as simply green beryl. Since the
1960s, the American jewelry industry changed the definition to include vanadium colored beryl as
'emerald', but in the UK and Europe, they are still not recognized as such. The historical green
color of emerald is unparalleled in the world of gemstones and it is considered as one of the most
'precious four' of all gemstones.
