The May birthstone, emerald, is one of the ancient traditional gemstones. The use of emeralds as gemstones dates back to ancient Egypt. Cleopatra was known as a collector of emeralds for royal jewelry. The Incas, Romans, and Spanish also used emeralds in royal jewelry. Emeralds come in an extraordinary range of shades of green. The color spectrum can vary from very deep green to a pale, almost blue sea green....

Emerald, the birthstone for May, has been beloved for millennia, evoking rebirth and renewal. Widely regarded as the definition of green, emerald is the perfect color for spring. From the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald Isle” to the vibrant green of the famed gemstone itself—the May birthstone emerald has captured hearts and minds through the ages. Variations of this rich green color suggest soothing, lush gardens. Legend has it...