EMERALD

The birthstone for May and a talisman for Gemini, Emerald is among the most expensive of all gemstones. Cutting this luscious green gem poses a special challenge to even skilled gem cutters owing to the frequent inclusions present in most emeralds and the high value of the raw crystal. In fact a special rectangular step-cut with beveled corners called the “emerald cut” has been developed for this gem. Most of the world’s emeralds are mined in Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia.