The Evolution of Gemology and the Role of Emeralds in History After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, scientific inquiry in Europe slowed dramatically, and the study of gemstones was no exception. Intellectual focus shifted toward the Islamic scholars of the East, who, although heavily influenced by Greek and Roman writings, occasionally made original…
Early Emerald Mines & Connoisseurs The famed Egyptian emerald mines, often referred to as Cleopatra’s emerald mines, were the primary source of emeralds for centuries until the discovery of significant deposits in the Americas during the 16th century. For the ancient Egyptians, the color green was sacred, symbolizing the fertility of the land that was…
During the Spanish conquest of the New World, vast amounts of emeralds were seized and shipped to Spain. In 1519, Hernán Cortés embarked on his mission to convert the Aztecs in Mexico to Christianity. Upon hearing of ten “ghost” ships off the coast, Aztec Emperor Moctezuma mistook them for the return of gods and commissioned…
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