【India】Emerald, the Lucky Stone of Indians

At the grand pre-wedding celebration for the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, despite the gathering of political and business elites and celebrities, none seemed to outshine the enormous emerald necklace adorning the neck of the billionaire’s wife. Industry insiders estimate the gemstone, described as “larger than a big bottle of essential balm,” to be worth $430 million. Why do Indians, who have a deep love for gold and jewelry, hold a special fondness for emeralds?

Valuing weddings and adorning gold and silver is a common perception of India from the outside world. Data shows that private gold holdings in India are estimated between 22,000 and 25,000 tons, ranking first globally. Most of this private gold has two destinations: offerings to temples and displays at weddings.
While ordinary families deck themselves in gold and silver for weddings, wealthy families naturally turn to jewelry for their children’s marriages. As the saying goes, “Gold and silver have a price, but jade is priceless.” India’s elite class uses the rarity of gemstones to signify their distinctiveness. Among the renowned gemstones—ruby, sapphire, and emerald—emerald has been highly esteemed in recent years. Known as the king of green gemstones, it is favored for symbolizing benevolence, faith, kindness, eternity, and luck.

Emerald is not “the green stone worn by grandmothers”; it is the Chinese transliteration of the ancient Persian word “zumurud.” Some view it as an old-fashioned gemstone, which is not without reason, as such jewelry is often heirloom quality. Currently, Colombia is the world’s most important source of high-quality emeralds, contributing about three-quarters of global production. The most famous emerald today, the Mughal Emerald, originates from Colombia.
The Mughal Emerald measures approximately 5 cm in length, 4 cm in width, and 4 cm in thickness, weighing 217.8 carats. Similar to this gem, the Taj Mahal, the “Jewel of India,” houses an emerald of comparable shape and quality, weighing about 140 carats. Furthermore, portraits and relics of various princely state rulers in historical India frequently feature emeralds. Evidently, emeralds have historically symbolized status and identity in India.
Beyond rarity, Indians’ preference for emeralds is deeply rooted in their cultural DNA. The Indian sacred text, the Vedas, explains the “healing” properties of emeralds, believing the gemstone “can bring good luck to the wearer” and “enhance well-being.” In the eyes of Indian astrologers, emerald represents the small but powerful planet Mercury, which exerts a strong influence on various aspects of the wearer’s daily life. The Sanskrit meaning of emerald is “growing green.”

Contemporary Indians call the emerald “Panna,” a gemstone closely associated with water, wealth, and wisdom. Indians widely believe that wearing a specific gemstone adds corresponding qualities. Emerald is also seen as a stone of prosperity, representing growth. Astrologers often recommend this stone to those engaged in banking, finance, and stock market trading. Simultaneously, Mercury, associated with emerald, represents knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, wearing an emerald is believed to bestow these qualities, particularly benefiting students by helping improve concentration. Consequently, many well-off Indian examinees now strive to wear emeralds into examination halls.

In multi-ethnic, multi-lingual India, good communication skills have always been coveted. Since emerald is linked to Mercury, and astrologers say Mercury is connected to hearing and speaking, professionals in related fields seek its benefits. Thus, teachers, doctors, public relations, and media workers revere the emerald, believing it helps boost their confidence and express themselves better. Some people with ear ailments also believe wearing emerald can alleviate symptoms.
Through modern media, a lavish celebration has once again showcased the splendor of the emerald to the world. While people marvel at its unparalleled beauty, they cannot help but sigh that it ultimately remains an object for only a select few.