May is Emerald Birthstone Month
Emerald is the traditional birthstone of May. Presenting the most intense and radiant green, emerald derives its name from the Greek smaragdos and the French esmeralde and means simply green gemstone. One of the oldest gemstones, it was treated as holy by the Incas and Aztecs being mined by the pharaohs of Egypt as far back as 3000 B.C.
Emerald was the color of beauty and love in ancients times and was the color of Venus. Prized by Cleopatra and the builder of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan, they were kept and inscribed with talismans and treated as sacred stones.
Another acceptable birthstone for may is Green Onyx.
