May’s birthstone is the emerald. So in keeping with my theme of creating fused glass birthstones here is my Fused Glass May Birthstone, Emerald. I must tell you this picture doesn’t do the piece justice. the depth and sparkle are incredible.
Emerald is also the gemstone for both 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. According to American Gem Society Emerald is derived from the word smaragdus, meaning green in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C.Emerald’s color is a symbol of new life and the promise of spring, which is why it is the birthstone of May.
Emeralds belong to the beryl mineral family and the only gemstone besides topaz that is listed in the ancient birthstone table. Emeralds range in color from light to dark green. Emeralds are one of the most loved of gems, with a colorful and long history and are considered a “precious” stone. Emeralds characteristically have many tiny fissures and fractures as well as inclusions in their crystals, referred to as “jardin,” from the French word meaning garden. There are six or seven types of stones that are called emerald. However, a true emerald is called simply an emerald, with no qualifying name in front of it. The market is flooded with imitations, simulators, and synthetic emeralds.
It is believed Emeralds have special properties:
• A symbol of rebirth
• Brings luck and success.
• Increase wearer’s ability in speech and diplomacy.
• Enlarge the power of the wearer.
• To give warning to the wearer of incoming dangers, usually the color becomes pale.
• To enhance the clairvoyance of their wearers.
How to Care for Emeralds:
Do not leave an emerald ring on while washing dishes or using soap as an emerald will attract grease and soap. After a while, these substances will accumulate on the bottom of the gemstone, causing it to lose its lively brilliance. Also do not wear your emerald when you might be engaging in physical activity that might scratch the stone. To clean your emerald, use room temperature running water and a soft toothbrush with mild soap like hand soap or Woolite. Brush repeatedly on the underside of the emerald to remove accumulations of dirt and grease. You will see the emerald begin to brighten. It should then be rinsed with warm water, and patted dry.
Do not clean an emerald in ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners or acetone. These may cause damage to the stone or the setting. An emerald should never be exposed to high heat. A good rule of thumb is that if the cleaning solution you use is too hot for you to put your hand in, you should not place your emerald in it. Avoid using strong soaps, jewelry cleaner liquids or other cleaners as most of these are not compatible with the oil treatment of Emeralds. Cleaning should be done no more frequently than is necessary, and never more than several times a year. After many years of wear, you may wish to have your Emerald re-oiled. Emeralds should never be immersed in an ultrasonic (this process can remove coating) or subjected to steam cleaning.
For my fused glass birthstone version of May’s “Emerald”, I used various shades and sizes of green frit including aventurine that gives it such sparkle.
There are many advantages of fused glass over typical gemstones is Fused Glass is less expensive, more durable (than some birthstones), and can be bigger than typical gemstones.
Please let me know if you would like a Fused Glass Emerald. If you would like something other than a pendant i.e., a wine stopper, Night light, etc., just email me (elegantfusedglass@gmail.com) and I can create a custom fused glass piece to fit your needs.
If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up to and learn a little more about jewelry, checkout our fused glass newsletter. It is published the last Sunday of the month.
Keeping my Kiln warm,
Karen
