The Red Emerald: What’s In A Name?
 |
Scarceness and beauty are two the prime qualities faceted minerals need so as to be called valuable stones. Red beryl, which belongs to the same family as emerald, aquamarine and morganite, actually qualifies as a dear stone by these standards. This American gem is still yet to be found on any other continent. Collectors and connoisseurs across the globe clamor for red beryl, regardless of its sizeable price and lilliputian size.
When it was first uncovered red beryl was known as bixbite, named for the jewelry and gem collector Maynard Bixby of Salt Lake City, Utah. The name fell under scrutiny for one or two reasons. First, it was confusingly like bixbyite, another mineral. 2nd, bixbite lacked the mellifluous sound considered critical to market the stone. The name red beryl was advocated and accepted by all gemological associations and most gem handmade jewelry dealers and fans. While the name red beryl is correct enough, making reference to species and colour, there are loads of critics of this name. Some, including emerald jewellery dealer Ray Zajicek of Equatorian Imports, Dallas, TX, liked the term "red emerald." Fred Rowe of House of Onyx, Greenville, Ky, has promoted the material as "American red emerald" for a few years. "People who are the owners of red beryl call it red emerald," he says, "and people who don't demand that is wrong till they own one."
When the name was suggested in the 1991 World Colored Stone Organization Congress, it sparked heated discussion. A small, but vocal, group of red beryl dealers felt that association with the word "emerald" would help turbo-charge sales. But gemological and geological purists argued that such usage of the word "emerald" was paradoxical to its standard meaning. The word sprung from the Greek "smaragdos" and was used to describe green stones. The Oxford English Compendium asserts the term "emerald" was linked with the colour green as far during the past as 1634 A.D.
Whatever the name of this dear gem, it's deep colour and superb glint is certain to leave you dumbfounded. Talk to your jeweller about the best way to incorporate red beryl in your next custom jewellery design.
Leave a Comment