May Birthstone: What is the Birthstone for May?

Photo Credit

Emerald photo courtesy of Thinkstock

Color & Meaning of the May Birthstone: Emerald

Martie Majoros

December 01, 2021

The May birthstone, the emerald, was a favorite gem of Cleopatra and Catherine the Great. It has long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love.

May Birthstone Color

Perhaps you recall The Emerald City in “The Wizard of Oz,” named for the vibrant, scintillating greens of this popular gem.

The finest emeralds have a rich green color, sometimes touched with a hint of blue, of intriguing translucence, depth, and clarity.

May Birthstone Facts & Folklore

Emeralds, like aquamarine, are a form of the mineral beryl. In the 1700s, powdered emeralds were sold by chemists to help relieve pain.
Ancient Romans went so far as to dedicate this stone to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience.
Wearing an emerald may help to strengthen your memory. If you dream of buying an emerald, someone you trust may deceive you.

Emerald, May birthstone