Birthstones
May Birthstone: Emerald (Zamurd) مئی
In short: Emerald, known in Pakistan as Zamurd or Panna, is the birthstone for May. It is green beryl, and the Swat valley is known for small emeralds of intense colour. Almost every natural emerald has inclusions, so judge colour first: a strong, even, medium to medium-dark green is the most valued. Light oiling is standard and disclosed.
Emerald is the birthstone for May. Known in Pakistan as Zamurd or Panna, it is green beryl, and the Swat valley is known for small emeralds of intense colour. Almost every natural emerald has inclusions, so buying one well means judging colour first and accepting a little of the garden inside.
- Month
- May
- Birthstone
- Emerald
- Urdu name
- Zamurd, Panna
- Colours
- Bluish green to yellowish green
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5–8
- Usual treatment
- Oiling (disclosed)
GemStore team — written by the people who list and pack every stone.
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Traditional belief vs gemmology: anything on this page about luck, protection, planets, healing or religious tradition describes traditional and cultural beliefs — not proven effects, religious rulings or medical advice. A stone's identity, hardness, treatment and origin are gemmology, which a lab can test; the references at the end of the page cover that side.
Meaning and history
Emeralds were mined in ancient Egypt and treasured by the Mughal emperors, whose carved emeralds are still admired in museum collections. By tradition the stone stands for renewal and love, and in Vedic astrology it is linked with Mercury (Budh). It has been the May stone since the modern list began.
Colours and how to choose
- Colour first. A strong, even, medium to medium-dark green is the most valued. Too dark looks black indoors; too pale is often sold as green beryl.
- Inclusions. The inner "garden" (jardin) is normal. Avoid cracks that reach the surface, which weaken the stone.
- Treatment. Most emeralds are oiled to hide small fissures. Light oiling is standard and should be disclosed, as we do.
- Origin. Swat emeralds are usually small and richly coloured. Origin claims need a lab report.
Browse emerald. For a brighter yellow-green at a lower cost, see peridot, and for an opaque green with its own long history, see jade.
Real or fake: what to check
- A flawless, cheap emerald is suspicious. Natural emeralds of good colour are rarely clean.
- Doublets glue a green layer to a clear base. Look at the stone from the side for a join line around the middle.
- Green glass shows round bubbles. Dyed quartz shows colour gathered in cracks.
- Synthetic emeralds can look very clean. We sell natural stones only, and independent lab testing can be arranged on request.
Read how to identify a natural emerald and the fakes that fool buyers.
Care
Emerald is 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale but brittle because of its inclusions. Clean it gently in lukewarm water with a soft brush. Never use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, hot water or strong detergents, which can remove the oil and make fissures show. Choose a protective setting for a ring. Our May birthstone guide has more detail.
A May gift
Green is a much-loved colour in Pakistan, and emerald has a long place in traditional kundan and Mughal-style bridal sets. An emerald suits a bride's ring, a mehndi outfit in green, or a May birthday. For Eid, a single small Swat-type emerald is a gift with real local character.
References
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