Colors
- Deep, vivid green; deep green with even color is valued most
Browse other gems by color: Green
Where Emerald comes from
- Colombia (some of the finest)
- Zambia (often darker, with bluish undertones)
- Brazil (often lighter)
Emerald meaning and history
Cleopatra was known for her love of emeralds.
Emerald has long been linked with wealth, power and renewal.
Meanings and powers attributed to gems are history and folklore. We report them; we do not claim a stone can do anything.
How hard is Emerald?
Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, where talc is 1, quartz 7 and diamond 10. Toughness, its resistance to chipping and breaking: fair to good. Needs more careful wear than ruby or sapphire.
See every birthstone on the hardness chart
How to clean and care for Emerald
| Warm soapy water | Safest method, with gentle scrubbing |
|---|---|
| Ultrasonic cleaner | Risky: vibrations can weaken stones with fractures |
| Steam cleaner | Risky: hot steam can force oil or resin out of fractures |
Heat, light and chemicals: Heat can worsen existing fractures; light and chemicals can affect the oils and resins used to fill fractures.
Treatments to ask about
Some estimates say 90 percent or more of emeralds are fracture filled.
Can you wear Emerald every day?
Wear with care Can chip, crack or scratch. Protective settings, pendants and earrings are safer than everyday rings. Check other stones.
Compare Emerald
Frequently asked questions
What is Emerald?
A green variety of the mineral beryl, colored by chromium and vanadium. One of the "big four" gems with diamond, ruby and sapphire.
What month is Emerald the birthstone for?
May.
How hard is Emerald?
7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Toughness: fair to good. Needs more careful wear than ruby or sapphire.
How do you clean Emerald?
Warm soapy water: safest method, with gentle scrubbing. Ultrasonic cleaner: risky: vibrations can weaken stones with fractures. Steam: risky: hot steam can force oil or resin out of fractures.
What does Emerald symbolize?
Cleopatra was known for her love of emeralds. Emerald has long been linked with wealth, power and renewal. These are traditions and history, not claims about what the stone can do.
Sources
- GIA: Emerald care and cleaning (hardness, toughness, stability, cleaning, treatments)
- AGS: May birthstone (what it is, colors, sources, history)
- American Gem Society: Birthstones (birthstone months)
Checked October 16, 2026.