Necklace Details
Emerald – Emerald is one of four stones considered precious gems and so scarce it is thought to be 20 times rarer than diamonds. A member of the Beryl family, Emerald’s significant inclusions and brittle nature, spawned the Emerald Cut which features beveled corners that protect the stone. The earliest known use of Emeralds comes from Ancient Egypt, approximately 6,000 years ago. The discovery, in 1538, and subsequent looting of the Muzo emerald mines in Colombia by the Spanish, created new worldwide demand as supply of this precious stone increased; Colombia remains the world’s largest supplier of Emeralds. Rome’s Pliny the Elder described emerald in the first century CE as: “…nothing greens greener” – likely the reason that emerald is associated with the lushest landscapes and the richest greens including designations as the Emerald Isle (Ireland), Emerald City (Seattle, WA and the Wizard of Oz’s magical home), and Emerald Buddha (Thailand’s most sacred religious icon which is actually carved from green jadeite). Green is considered by many cultures to be the color of life, and Emerald has long been associated with renewal, vitality, life, and spirit, and their soothing color is believed to relieve eye strain. The Ancient Greeks dedicated Emerald to the goddess Aphrodite, Egyptian queen Cleopatra decreed that all Emeralds mined in her territory were her property, and ancient cultures in the Americas, including the Muisca, Incaa, Maya, and Mexica considered Emeralds sacred and used them in religious ceremonies. The world’s largest gem quality emerald, the Chipembele, from Zambia, is 7,525 carats! For context, in 2011, Elizabeth Taylor’s famed 23.5 carat Emerald pendant sold for $6,578,500 ($280,000 per carat). Today, Emerald is May’s birthstone, the stone of spring, and given as 20th and 35th anniversary gifts.
Rose Quartz – Rose Quartz has been turned into beads for nearly 10,000 years. It comes in a range of delicate shades, from very light to medium-dark pink and its cloudy inclusions sometimes cause asterism, or transparent stars. People have long believed in the magical powers of quartz; ancient civilizations used it as potent talismans and believed it could prevent aging. Today, Rose Quartz is known as the “love stone,” and said to balance the emotions and heal anger and disappointment. Rose Quartz is given as a 5th anniversary gift.
Swarovski Crystal (Austria) – Swarovski was founded in 1895 following Daniel Swarovski’s invention of the world’s first electric-powered crystal cutting machine and lexicon of crystal cuts that produced a new level of crystal clarity. After visiting the Northern Lights, he partnered with Dior to create his famous Aurora Borealis, or AB, coating, a very thin layer of gold applied to half of a crystal’s facets to create an iridescent, shimmering effect. Today, Swarovski Crystals provide the sparkle for Beyonce and Taylor Swift’s concerts, most notably with 250,000 crystals on Beyonce’s red catsuit (Cowboy Carter Tour) and more than 5,000 on Taylor Swift’s guitar (Eras Tour), now housed at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
Sterling Silver – Silver is considered a precious metal and, because of its durability, a tangible representation of lasting love and family bonds. It is also believed to strengthen emotional, mental, and physical well-being by promoting inner peace, alleviating stress and anxiety, and warding off negative energy. Wearing or carrying sterling silver serves as a personal talisman, enhancing one's inner strength and resilience. Silver is given as a 25th anniversary gift.