TL;DR
- May has one birthstone on the modern list: emerald, a green beryl coloured by chromium or vanadium.
- Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale but often included, and most cut emeralds are oiled or resin-filled.
- We don't sell cut emerald gems. We do carry green aventurine, peridot and green tourmaline, each its own stone.
The May birthstone is emerald, the deep green gem that's been prized for thousands of years. It's a cousin of aquamarine, it gets its colour from a pinch of chromium, and almost every emerald you'll ever see has a little garden of inclusions inside. Jewellers even have a name for that: "jardin", French for garden.
Why emerald is the May birthstone
Birthstone lists have changed a lot over the centuries. In 1912, American jewellers agreed on a standard list so everyone sold the same stone for the same month. May got emerald, and it has kept it through every update since. Today that's usually called the modern list.
So May has one birthstone, and it's a famous one. Green for May makes a lot of sense, too. It's the month when everything in Canada finally turns green again.
Want the whole calendar? Here's every month's birthstone in one place.
What emerald actually is
Emerald is a green variety of beryl. That's the same mineral family as aquamarine, which is March's stone. Emerald gets its green from tiny traces of chromium, vanadium or both.
It sits at about 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it resists scratches well. But most emeralds have inclusions and small fractures, which makes them more fragile than that number suggests. A hard knock can chip one.
Why are good emeralds so scarce? Part of the answer is chemistry. Beryllium and chromium don't usually turn up in the same rocks, so the right mix to grow emerald is uncommon. When it does happen, the crystals tend to grow with cracks and inclusions.
That's also why a clean, deep green emerald is one of the most valuable gems around. Value depends on colour, clarity and size. Paler, cloudier pieces are much easier to find, and they're what most carvings and beads are made from.
The name is usually traced back to the Greek "smaragdos", an old word for a green gem. GIA's emerald guide is a great read if you want the full gem-nerd version.
What the May birthstone represents
Emerald has a long, glamorous history. The story goes that Cleopatra loved emeralds and wore them often. Royals and collectors have chased fine emeralds for centuries.
Because of its colour, emerald is traditionally linked with spring, growth and renewal. People also use it as a symbol of love and loyalty, which is why it shows up in anniversary jewellery. It's often linked with the heart chakra.
Spiritually, then, emerald is usually read as a stone of the heart: love, patience and fresh starts. That's the tradition, not a promise. Plenty of people just love the green.
May zodiac signs and their stones
May is split between two signs:
- Taurus runs until about May 20. Emerald is the stone most often named for Taurus, along with rose quartz. Browse the Taurus collection.
- Gemini starts around May 21. Agate and citrine are common Gemini picks. Both are easy to find, which makes them simple gifts for a late-May birthday.
Zodiac stone lists vary from source to source, so don't worry if you've seen different ones. Our free natal chart also works out your moon and rising signs from your birth details.
Is my emerald real? Oiled, lab-grown and lookalikes
Here's the honest part. Most cut emeralds have been oiled or filled with resin. It fills tiny cracks so the stone looks clearer. It's an old, very common practice, and good jewellers disclose it.
Lab-grown emerald is real emerald chemically, just grown in a lab. Fakes are usually green glass, or a thin slice of emerald glued onto something cheaper. A few clues:
- Inclusions. Natural emerald almost always has some. A flawless, bright stone at a low price deserves a second look.
- Bubbles. Round bubbles usually mean glass.
- Too good to be true. Fine, clean emeralds are rare and valuable. Value depends on colour, clarity and size.
At The Rock Space, treated, dyed and man-made stones are labelled as such.
What we have for May birthdays
We don't sell cut emerald gems, and we have no emerald pieces in the online shop right now.
If you want green to wear every day, we have other green stones. To be clear, these are different minerals, not emerald:
- Green aventurine is quartz with tiny flakes of green mica that make it shimmer. The green aventurine bracelet is an easy everyday piece.
- Peridot is a bright lime-green gem and the August birthstone. Try the peridot chip bracelet.
- Green tourmaline grows in long, striped crystals. The tourmaline collection has green pieces among the other colours.
Prefer to mix and match? Pick green beads one by one in our Design Your Own Bracelet builder.
Caring for emerald
- Wipe, don't soak. Use lukewarm water and a soft cloth. Hot water can loosen the oil in a stone.
- No ultrasonic or steam cleaners. They can crack an emerald or pull out its filler.
- Avoid knocks. Take emerald rings off for the gym or gardening.
- Store it on its own, in a soft pouch, away from harder stones.
Green aventurine, peridot and tourmaline are all happy with a quick rinse and a soft cloth. Keep strung bracelets out of long soaks so the cord lasts.
Shopping for more birthdays? See the April birthstone right before May, and the June birthstone right after.
Know someone with a May birthday? Make them a free May birthstone card and send it by text or email.
Frequently asked questions
What does the May birthstone represent?
Emerald is traditionally linked with spring, growth and renewal, and with love and loyalty. Its green matches the month when everything turns green again.
What is the rarest birthstone?
Alexandrite (June) is usually named the rarest. Fine emeralds come up often too: clean, deep green stones are hard to find, so value depends on colour, clarity and size.
What does emerald mean spiritually?
It's usually read as a stone of the heart: love, patience and fresh starts. It's often linked with the heart chakra. That's tradition, so take what feels right to you.
What is the birthstone of Taurus?
Emerald is the stone most often named for Taurus. Rose quartz is another common pick. Zodiac stone lists vary, so you'll see others too.
Is green aventurine the same as emerald?
No. Green aventurine is quartz with tiny flakes of green mica. Emerald is a green beryl. They're different minerals that happen to share a colour.
Come say hi
Every green looks different in your hand, so it's worth seeing a few side by side. Visit us at 396 Victoria Street North in Kitchener and compare them under the lights. Or take the Crystal Quiz if you'd rather start online.