Birthstones by month
May Birthstone: Emerald (Zamurd) Buying Guide مئی
In short: Emerald, which Pakistanis call zamurd or panna, is May's birthstone. It is the green variety of beryl, and Swat is known for small stones of intense colour. Nearly every natural emerald carries inclusions, so colour comes first when you judge one: a strong, even green from medium to medium-dark is the most prized. Light oiling is normal, and we disclose it.
May's birthstone is emerald, the stone Pakistanis call zamurd or panna. It is green beryl, and the Swat valley gives small emeralds with a very intense colour. Almost every natural emerald has inclusions inside, so buying a good one comes down to judging the green first and making peace with a little of the garden within.
- Month
- May
- Birthstone
- Emerald
- Urdu name
- Zamurd, panna
- Colours
- Bluish green to yellowish green
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5–8
- Usual treatment
- Oiling (we disclose it)
Written by Sameer
Reviewed on
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.
Where emerald's story starts
Emeralds were mined in ancient Egypt, and the Mughal emperors prized them so much that their carved stones still draw crowds in museums. Tradition ties emerald to love and renewal, and Vedic astrology connects it with Mercury, known here as Budh. Ever since the modern birthstone list was drawn up, May has been emerald's month.
How to pick a good one
- Start with colour. The stones people want most are a strong, even green, medium to medium-dark. Too dark looks black indoors; too pale is often sold as green beryl.
- Accept the garden. The inner landscape of inclusions, the jardin, is part of a natural emerald. What you should avoid are cracks that run out to the surface, because they weaken the stone.
- Ask about oil. Most emeralds are oiled to fill tiny fissures. Light oiling is normal, and a seller should tell you. We do.
- Treat origin claims carefully. Swat emeralds tend to be small with a rich green. Origin claims need a lab report.
See our emerald. For a livelier yellow-green for less, try peridot, and if an opaque green with its own deep history appeals, try jade.
How fakes are made, and how to catch them
- Be wary of a cheap emerald with no flaws at all. Natural stones with good colour are almost never clean.
- A doublet is a green layer glued onto a colourless base. Turn the stone on its side and look for a seam around its middle.
- Green glass has round gas bubbles. Dyed quartz shows its colour pooling inside the cracks.
- Lab-grown emerald can look remarkably clean. We only sell natural stones, and if you want independent lab testing we can arrange it.
For more, read how to identify a natural emerald and the fakes that fool buyers.
Caring for emerald
Emerald sits at 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale, yet its inclusions make it brittle. A gentle wash in lukewarm water with a soft brush is enough. Keep it away from ultrasonic and steam cleaners, hot water and harsh detergents; all of these can draw the oil out and leave the fissures visible. In a ring, go for a setting that guards the edges. Our May birthstone guide covers this in more depth.
Emerald as a gift
Green is much loved in Pakistan, and zamurd has long featured in kundan and Mughal-style bridal sets. It is a lovely stone for a bride's ring, for a green mehndi outfit or for someone born in May. For Eid, one small Swat-type emerald makes a present with real local character.
References
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