Emerald
The most valuable of all gems, its deep green colour has enchanted the hearts of women since Cleopatra's times. It is considered one of the most precious stones of the natural world
Information
Emeralds are considered to be more precious than diamonds because the mineral which forms them is quite rare. They are the premiere gems in the Beryl family. For more than 4,000 years emeralds have been among the most valuable of all jewels.
Emerald history begins in Egypt, where there actually was a “Cleopatra’s Mine”, near the Aswan Dam before 2000 B.C. and continued until about 1200 A.D. Egypt supplied the known world with emeralds throughout the Biblical period and through the middle Ages.
It is widely accepted that the largest, uncut emerald ever found was in Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974. It was a natural beryl crystal weighing over 86,000 carats. The stone was eventually valued at $1,120,080.