Beryl

History of birthstones

The historian Josephus proclaimed a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron’s breastplate, the twelve months of the year and the twelve signs of the zodiac. The Breastplate of Aaron, referred to in Exodus 28:17-20:

10 Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, [...]

Virtues of Beryl

Thomas de Cantimpré tells us that the beryl cures quinsy and swollen glands in the neck if the affected part be rubbed with the stone. It is also useful as a remedy for diseases of the eye, and if water in which it has been steeped be given to anyone suffering from an attack of [...]

Emerald

Considering the particular emerald which is a variety of beryl -although the name emerald in the trade is applied somewhat loosely to any stone which is of the same colour, or approaching the colour of the beryl variety -this emerald only differs chemically from the beryl, just described, in possessing an addition of oxide of [...]

The beryl is a compound of silicates of beryllia and alumina, with the formula 3BeOSiO2 + Al2O3,3SiO2, or 3BeO,Al2O3,6SiO2. It differs very little indeed from the emerald, with the exception of its colour.

In the ordinary varieties this is somewhat poor, being mostly blue, or a dirty or a greenish yellow; the better kinds, [...]

Blue gemstones

Hardness. Specific Gravity.

Beryl 7-3/4 2.709-2.810 Diamond 10 3.502-3.564 Dichorite (Water Sapphire) 7-7-1/2 4.049-4.060 Disthene (Kyanite) 5-7 3.609-3.688 Iolite (Cordierite) 7-1/4 2.641 Lapis lazuli 5-1/2 2.461 Sapphire 9 4.049-4.060 Topaz 8 3.500-3.520 Tourmaline 7-1/4 3.160 Turquoise 6 2.800

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