May's Birthstone is Emerald
The vivid green Emerald is said to symbolise fidelity, goodness and love. It is one of the most highly prized of all the gems.Colour: From the Greek "smaragdos" which means green stone; the most prized are pure grass green in colour. Emeralds are often characterised by the 'garden' or 'jardin' - the crystals trapped within the stone. Under magnification these crystals resemble patterns of foliage as in a garden. A flawless, clear emerald is very rare and is usually only found in the smallest stones.
History: The world's largest emerald was discovered in 1969 in Colombia and weighed 7,052 carats. According to legend, the wearing of emeralds not only cured a wide range of ailments, including low IQ, poor eyesight and infertility, but also enabled the wearer to predict the future. They were mined near the Red Sea during the time of Cleopatra, who wore her emeralds lavishly.
Found in: Colombia, Brazil, Zambia and Zimbabwe.