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Emerald is a variety of the mineral species beryl. To the ancient Egyptians, emerald's green color stood for fertility and rebirth, and in many cultures emeralds were used to treat eye disease. The emperor Nero
reportedly watched chariot races through lenses made of emeralds.
Many people believed holding an emerald under one's tongue would allow the future to be seen, while others thought
wearing emeralds would strengthen memory and ward off evil spells.
Emeralds occur in shades of green, ranging from light to dark and from yellowish to bluish green. Inclusions are
acceptable in emeralds, and flawless emeralds are rare.
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