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Gachala emerald
Emerald, the birthstone for May, is one of the world\'s most valued
gems. Mined by the Egyptians more than 3,500 years ago for the
Pharaohs, this precious green stone also has been worshipped by the
ancient Incas and Aztecs, the Indian Maharajas and Maharanis, and
kings, queens and other royals all over the world throughout history.
The stone is prized for its shades of green, which represent the color
of life and the eternally returning spring. For this reason, emerald
has held a special religious position in many cultures.
The Gachala Emerald, an uncut 5-cm stone weight 858 carats, was found
in Colombia in 1967. It was given to the Smithsonian Institute in
Washington, D.C., by famous New York jeweler Harry Winston.
Another huge, rare emerald is the Sacred Emerald Buddha. It resides on
the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. This venerable
image was, according to historic legend, accidentally uncovered after a
lightning strike on a Chedi in Northern Thailandˇ¦s Chiang Rai district
in AD 1434. The templeˇ¦s resident abbot discovered stucco flaking off
the image exposing a hidden green colored Buddha statute. The remaining
stucco was duly removed reveling what the world now refers to as the
ˇ§Emerald Buddha.ˇ¨
The Mogul Emerald is one of the largest emeralds in the world. The
rectangular cut tablet, which dates back to 1695, weighs 217.80 carats
and is about 10 cm high. One side is inscribed with Islamic prayers and
the other is engraved with opulent flower ornaments. The emerald is
thought to have come from the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb --the last of
the great Mogul rulers, who controlled much of India. It was discovered
in Colombia by the Spanish conquistadors and most likely arrived in
India through trade during the Mogul dynasty, according to experts. The
emerald was auctioned off at Christie\'s of London for $2.2 million to
an anonymous buyer in 2001.
