The Emerald, May's birthstone, holds a timeless allure with its lush green hue and rich history. Revered since ancient times, emeralds were prized by civilisations like the Egyptians and the Incas, symbolising fertility, and rebirth. Symbolically, emeralds represent love, prosperity, and renewal, embodying the vitality of spring and were believed to possess mystical properties, enhancing memory, intuition, and emotional well-being. In this latest journal article, we will explore the beauty of emerald gemstones to uncover what makes them so sought-after before exploring our very own curated collection of emerald jewellery pieces.

Emeralds are a part of the Beryl gemstone family and are therefore a softer stone with a standard hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale. The quality of an emerald is graded according to colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. The most desirable emeralds have a bluish-green to pure green hue with an even and vivid saturation across the stone, and are highly transparent and eye-clean. Occasionally, the visual characteristics of emeralds can be linked to their geographic origin. Colombian emeralds are reputed to exhibit a warmer and more intensely pure green colour, while Zambian emeralds are believed to possess a cooler, more bluish-green hue. Despite these assertions, the reality is that the appearance of emeralds often transcends specific sources, leading to overlapping visual traits.

Due to their natural inclusions and brittleness, emerald gemstones can be difficult to cut and so, are typically fashioned into an emerald-cut stone. With its rectangular facets and stepped silhouette, emerald cuts showcase the stone's magnificent hue, tone and saturation. Despite this, you will see other popular cuts on the market that have usually been selected to maximise the effect of hue, tone and saturation.

Due to their relatively softer nature, emeralds are more prone to damage from impact and pressure. When wearing emerald jewellery, extra care should be taken to avoid knocking or bumping the stones against hard surfaces, and pieces should be removed before engaging in activities that may pose a risk of impact, such as sports or manual labour.

To maintain their beauty, emeralds require gentle care, avoiding harsh chemicals and sudden temperature changes. In essence, the emerald's enduring beauty, coupled with its historical significance and symbolic meaning, solidifies its place as a cherished gemstone and at Hogans our ready-to-wear collection boasts a number of meticulously crafted emerald gemstone pieces, from dress rings to petite pendants.

1. 18K YWG Oval Emerald Cluster Dress Ring: A refined take on the classic cluster style, this dress ring features a vibrant 2.11ct oval-cut emerald at its centre. It’s framed by a halo of round brilliant-cut diamonds and further enhanced with tapered baguettes, adding structure and sparkle. The combination of shapes and settings creates a timeless yet modern silhouette, perfect for those who appreciate bold colour and elegant design.

2. 18K WG Emerald & Diamond Huggie Earrings: Crafted in 18k white gold, these huggie earrings feature an alternating pattern of round brilliant-cut white diamonds and vibrant emerald gemstones. The contrast between the crisp sparkle of the diamonds and the rich green of the emeralds creates a striking yet balanced design, offering a fresh take on everyday elegance.

3. 18K YWG Emerald & Diamond Trilogy Ring: Crafted in 18k yellow and white gold, this three-stone ring showcases a 1.52ct emerald-cut emerald at its centre, flanked by two high-quality emerald-cut diamonds. The harmonious balance of colour and clarity highlights the elegance of the design, while the combination of precious metals adds a contemporary touch to this timeless setting.

4. 18K WG Round Emerald Halo Style Necklace: Crafted in 18k white gold, this elegant pendant features a round emerald centre stone encircled by a halo of brilliant-cut white diamonds. The vivid green of the emerald contrasts beautifully with the sparkle of the diamonds, creating a timeless piece that effortlessly blends colour, clarity and classic design. The pendant is suspended from a matching 18k white gold chain, making it ready to wear and perfect for gifting.

5. 18K RWG Oval Zambian Emerald & Australian Pink Diamond Dress Ring: Crafted in 18k rose and white gold, this cluster-style dress ring showcases a striking 1.90ct oval-cut Zambian emerald at its centre. Surrounding the vibrant green gemstone is a carefully arranged halo of round brilliant-cut white diamonds and oval-cut Australian pink diamonds, sourced from the Argyle diamond mine.