Although these Antique Emerald Rings pertaining to the May birthstone date back to the beginning of the last century, the earliest known emerald source was near the Red Sea in Egypt , named ‘Cleopatra's Emerald Mines'. Although probably mined from about 2000 B.C., it appears that the location was unknown during the middle ages and undiscovered until 1818. Most emeralds used in ancient jewelry probably come from here although nowadays they are no longer in use due to diminishing quality crystals. Although Egypt had a monopoly on the world supply of Emeralds until the 16th century when Spanish Conquistadores arrived in South America, Columbian Indians were using them before 1537 and originally named the ‘Chivor' mine ‘Somondoco', meaning ‘God of the Green Stones'.
Although these Antique Emerald Rings pertaining to the May birthstone date back to the beginning of the last century, the earliest known emerald source was near the Red Sea in Egypt , named ‘Cleopatra's Emerald Mines'. Although probably mined from about 2000 B.C., it appears that the location was unknown during the middle ages and undiscovered until 1818. Most emeralds used in ancient jewelry probably come from here although nowadays they are no longer in use due to diminishing quality crystals. Although Egypt had a monopoly on the world supply of Emeralds until the 16th century when Spanish Conquistadores arrived in South America, Columbian Indians were using them before 1537 and originally named the ‘Chivor' mine ‘Somondoco', meaning ‘God of the Green Stones'.
