Through time, the emerald has been known as a symbol of truth and love. In ancient Greece and Rome, emerald was said to be the gemstone of the goddess Venus, purveyor of love and hope. On the other side of the world, emeralds were revered by the Incas and believed by the Egyptians to be a source of eternal life.

Emeralds are rarer and often more expensive than diamonds When it comes to rare and expensive gemstones, most of us immediately think of diamonds, but, in fact, emeralds are more than 20 times rarer than diamonds and, therefore, often command a higher price.

3. Emeralds are Rarer and Often More Expensive than Diamonds. ... But it is emerald that are among the rarest of all gemstones and so often have a price tag to match. They are part of a family of gems called beryl and are mined all over the world including Central and South America and Africa.

Emeralds occur in hues ranging from yellow-green to blue-green, with the primary hue necessarily being green. Yellow and blue are the normal secondary hues found in emeralds. Only gems that are medium to dark in tone are considered emeralds; light-toned gems are known instead by the species name green beryl.