Gemfields Marks Emerald Month by Celebrating the Story Inside Each Gemstone

Emeralds are prized for their calming green: an embodiment of nature, they symbolise growth, hope and new beginnings. They are also the glorious birthstone of May, and this year’s emerald month campaign pays homage to their natural beauty, depicting emeralds as a rough gemstone as well as the cut-and-polished treasures we know and love, with a focus on the beguiling inclusions that are housed inside each gem.

The campaign is intended to be lightly educational: raising awareness of the individual nature of each emerald and highlighting its rarity. It celebrates inclusions – sometimes called ‘jardin’ (garden) – that can be admired within emeralds, and are captured so beautifully in the magnified campaign images taken by Lotus Gemology.

Emeralds belong to the mineral family known as beryl. This also includes aquamarine, morganite and heliodor, but it is the green emerald that has long been the most coveted and valuable. Gemfields mines emeralds in Zambia as Zambian emeralds derive their intense green colour from the presence of chromium, iron and beryllium in their crystal structure.

Gemfields has collaborated with talented fine jewellery designers from around the world, resulting in a diverse range of collections showcasing Zambian emeralds. The recently launched Shruti Sushma x Gemfields collection channels Indian heritage and artistry: The Emerald Hexagon Necklace is comprised of strands of large emeralds, perfect for discovering the world within each gem. For everyday wear, the Waterlily Emerald and Diamond Earrings use a soothing floral motif to provide a pop of colour; while the fresh green Emerald Cluster Earrings are irresistible.

The IVY New York x Gemfields collaboration features substantial emerald statement rings, showcasing emeralds flanked by diamonds: the perfect choice for brides seeking an alternative to a solitaire diamond. The Fabergé x Gemfields Colours of Love collection offers further options, such as pear-shaped emerald drop earrings. The MidnightOperaHouse x Gemfields collaboration is hot off the press, with three one-off pieces that celebrate emeralds of different sizes in timeless Oriental, Baroque and Art Deco styles.

For a significant purchase, it is advisable to request a certificate/report from a recognised, independent gemmological laboratory to be assured of the gem’s origin and any treatments it has received. Emeralds are likely to have been oiled, which is a common practice, though an un-oiled emerald will command a significantly higher price. Finally, ‘confidence’ refers to the need to buy from a trusted seller, and to be comfortable that a gem has not originated from an illicit source or funded practices that you may not wish to advocate.

Gemfields believes that gemstones should provide a positive impact and works hard to ensure that