Description
This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!
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"No other green attains the splendor of the richly and nobly colored emerald. Impossible to compare a green glass with this stone, absurd to name even the sea or a colorful parrot emerald. How might the Spaniards once have felt when they received as a gift from the Indians in 1537 that stone of ambition and passionate love?"
With these exuberant words, a popular non-fiction book of the first half of the 20th century describes the emerald. The green variety of beryl was coveted in ancient Egypt, and Egypt dominated the emerald trade in the Mediterranean until the fall of the Pharaonic Empire. It was not until the Spanish conquered South America in the 16th century that rich emerald deposits were discovered on the new continent, which from then on became the most sought-after gemstones of the European upper class.
The emerald is one of the most valuable gemstones and has always had a very high value in many cultures, myths and royal houses. The ancient Egyptians recognized the healing powers of the emerald early on, especially its effect on the eyes. Even Pliny the Elder wrote about it: "If the eyes are weakened, they are strengthened again by looking at the emerald. The gentle green of the stone drives away dullness". Nero is also said to have worn an emerald as a monocle to strengthen his eyes, and it is even said of Cleopatra that she supported her beauty and youth by wearing emeralds. The emerald was already mentioned in the Bible and was considered in the Revelation of John as the fourth of the twelve foundation stones of the Jerusalem city wall.
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Size & Details
Our Promise
We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.
You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.
Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.
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