What is an Emerald?
Emerald is the birthstone for May. Known as the “Gem of Spring”, emeralds have long been coveted not only for the beauty of their color, but also for their legendary powers. Emeralds have been said to sharpen the mind and eyesight while also providing the power to predict the future. Despite the fact that emeralds have a hardness rating of 7.5 to 8, they still can be quite fragile and must be warn with care. Nearly all emeralds are treated with oils or resins to enhance their transparency and depth of color. Treat your emeralds with care and avoid impacts to ensure a lifetime of enjoyment. Although you may clean them gently at home with a soft brush and lukewarm water, they are best cleaned professionally by your jewelry. It is not recommended that you immerse your emeralds in cleaning solutions (never wear your emeralds in the bath, shower or when doing dishes) and ultrasonic cleaners should never be used on emeralds. Since the treatment of emeralds is not permanent, Sears recommends
