Monday, May 2, 2011

may birthstone: emeralds!

first mined in Egypt and worn frequently by Cleopatra, emerald is a striking gemstone that is part of the big 3 gemstones--which also includes sapphire and ruby. emerald, the may birthstone, was once believed to cure malaria and cholera and now symbolizes rebirth, fertility, and love. among the many emeralds with historic value is the Patricia Emerald (pictured here). the Patricia Emerald, a 632 carat rough, was discovered in Colombia in 1920 and is now on exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.