Natural Emerald and Diamond Dress Ring

Emeralds, the birthstone for May are one of the big four of traditional gems. Most of us probably have fond memories of watching Dorothy in the Emerald City when we were much younger (We get up at 12 and start to work at 1, take an hour for lunch and then at 2 we’re done – jolly good fun!), but in reality, an emerald city would cost more than all the money in the world can buy! These gemstones are exceedingly difficult to work, and large enough specimens, with good enough quality, are very hard to come by. We look at the options for emerald jewelry, as well as some substitutes for the Wizard of Oz’s home, if you have a special birthday-ee to buy for this May.

Emerald and Emerald-Cut Diamond ring

White Gold Emerald and Diamond Ring

Quartz and Agate Bracelet

Blue Agate Necklace

Sapphire and Diamond Ring

Filigree Yellow Sapphire Pendant

When you understand how difficult it is to find good quality, clear emeralds, and how hard they are to work, you start to understand why the emerald rings on site are such luxury items! This large 1.57ct emerald has beautiful clarity and a natural rich colour, and is coupled with baguette cut diamonds with a total weight of .5 ct. All of the gems are channel set in 18ct gold, for a lovely traditional look.

The ring at the beginning of the article is quite similar to the one at right, however, special attention has been put into the quality of the piece. The emerald is a deeper green than the ring at the beginning of the article, meaning it is much more valuable, and the diamonds are close to as high quality as it is possible to buy! The setting is platinum, for both style and durability, while the yellow gold band makes for a warm, sweet background.

Emeralds look just as nice on silver-tone metals, though, and the 18ct white gold of the band at right makes for a crisp setting, which intensifies the delicacy of the green. The emeralds in this ring have a total weight of .41ct, while the diamonds weigh .29 ct combined. You can lay-by this for around the cost of a meal at a restaurant per week, and the ring also features free shipping across Australia.

Sadly, the range of natural emeralds on site is limited – just as it is in most jewelry shops all over the world! Of course, synthetic copies abound … but need we say more?! However, the two zodiac signs that make up the month of May, Taurus and Gemini, each have their own birthstones that are associated with their starsign. Gemini’s is agate (as well as the rarer alexandrite). Agate comes in a variety of gorgeous subtle colors, and the blue agate gemstone bracelet at right is a feminine example. Paired up with rose quartz, and set on a chain that is as delicate as the colors of the gemstones themselves, this bracelet is perfect for petite, girlish women, and especially good for younger girls. The sterling silver background is crisp and iridescent, and as a whole, the bracelet is extremely reasonably priced!

If you feel that it is almost ‘too’ inexpensive, grab the matching blue agate necklace for your favourite Gemini gal . The blue agate beads are set over a 45cm chain, and have their own natural striations, making each piece truly unique. Despite the excellent price, the necklace also features free shipping across Australia.

Taureans enjoy the luxury of wonderful dark sapphires as their alternative birthstone, if they are born in May, and we certainly have plenty of sapphire options. The sapphire and diamond ring at right is a little more than it seems at first glance – on closer inspection you’ll notice that the sapphire sections actually have two baguette cut stones sitting horizontally, on top of each other, perpendicular to the diamonds. It is a delicate look, for a luxurious piece – the sapphires have a combined weight of .81ct, the diamonds .32ct. The stones are set on delicious quality 18ct white gold, on a 4mm wide band which is large enough to feel solid, but small enough to be comfortable. You can also engrave a personal message on this ring for your sensual, romantic Taurean temptress!

For something different for Taureans, we also ‘heart’ the filigree pendant at right, featuring yellow sapphires and diamonds in flower patterns within the heart. It couldn’t be any more feminine if it was on the Madonna herself, and is also lovely quality. The sapphires have a combined weight of .29ct, and the three white diamonds weigh .6ct altogether. Most of the value comes from the diamonds, but the personality is all from the unusually colored sapphires!

So, while emeralds are the traditional choice for May birthdays, there are plenty of other alternatives on site that are just as fitting and classical.