In the world of gems, the emerald is among the rarest and most precious of all. First discovered during late classical antiquity, the emerald has been coveted around the world because of its rich green color. Its etymology derives from the Greek word smaragdos, or “green gem,” or smaragdus in Latin and zummurud in Arabic. In Chinese, emerald is zǔmǔlǜ, a transliteration from zummurud.
From mine to jewel, the Garden of Emeralds exhibition’s path begins deep in the earth where emeralds are formed by rare geological conditions. Such delicate physical properties make emerald cutting particularly challenging. Technical features and cutting styles are highlighted in order to understand how the lapidaries enhance the natural beauty of the gem, especially its color, clarity and sparkle. Emeralds are renowned for their “garden”, an inner world that the exhibition enables to explore more closely.
Emeralds are not only a miracle of nature, but also a vehicle of wealth, craftsmanship and culture. From West to East, the emerald trade created strong commercial and cultural bonds between Central America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. The meanings associated with this gem relate predominantly to its green color and are linked to cultural context. Whether made during the Roman Empire or the Present time, exceptional emerald jewelry pieces exemplify a richness and variety of symbols and ideas.
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