Gazing at the green colour of emerald soothes the eyes and enhances eyesight. It cures epilepsy, diabetes and jaundice, and also believed to cure leprosy if finely ground and applied as a poultice.

When should emerald be worn
If your weakest planet according to your horoscope is Mercury, emerald is your ideal gemstone. You can rely on emerald if you encounter one or more of the following problems related to body and mind.

Effects of weak Mercury on your personal life

* Budha denotes vidya (education) and skill, and as your friend is languorous you may find difficulties in studies and cultivating new skills. Your memory power wiil be feeble and grasping power negligible. You will have a shabby handwriting, which can directly effect your exam result if your are student.
* As Budh is also a planet for final decisions, a weaker one means that it will be impossible for you to stick to one view.
* You will face immense difficulty in making good judgments.
* You will have a low IQ added with poor communication skills.
* Weak memory, inability to calculate, insecurity, childishness, foolishness, lack of self-control, obsession and dependencies are some of the disheartening fators in your life.
* You may be a little slow, dull, absent-minded or irrational.

Effects of weak Mercury / Budh on your body
Weak Budh can weaken your nervous system giving rise to nerve pain, tremors, insomnia and palpitations.
You will be often attacked by hypersensitivity, allergies, sinus problems and colds. The lungs and heart may be vulnerable. You may also suffer from pain and anxiety.

Specific details of the emerald to be worn
Please note that the analysis discussed here are based on your horoscope and not on your sun sign or moon sign.

* Emeralds are green in colour (due to the replacement of aluminium ions by chromium ions in the crystal lattice.)
* It should be at least 1 ½ carats in size and should be set in gold.
* The ring should be worn on the little finger of the right or left hand.

Other characteristics

* Its hardness on the Moh's scale is 7.5.
* Its specific gravity is 2.71 and its refractive index is 1.57 - 1.58.

Emerald is rarely found as clean crystals - they are mostly badly flawed. So if it is flawless or extremely dark green and shiny then probably it is a fake gem.

When to wear your emerald for the first time?

* Gemstones should not be worn abruptly. You need to stick to some ancient spiritual rules before you actually start wearing it.
* Follow the steps mentioned below to dig out utmost advantage from the gemstone and get 100 per cent value for money.
* Select a auspicious day for the event with the help of your astrologer. (Please do not follow the panchang to choose your day because the particulars given in them are very general and need not apply to you and your horoscope)
* Wear your stone first on Wednesday, when the Moon / Chandra is waxing i.e. during Shukla Paksha preferably when Budha is strong with friendly signs and exalted. The first hour of sunrise on an auspicious Wednesday is the best time to wear.
* Avoid wearing the stone at jeweler's place as the time and day of your first wearing holds immense significance.

Give life to your emerald
Your expensive gem will be worthless if you don't recite correct mantra and perform suitable poojas before using them.

* Wash your gem in rose water.
* Keep it immersed in milk for one hour during the first hour from sunrise starting from one Wednesday to the next Wednesday.
* Then keep it in rose water until the chosen date.

On the special date invoke the blessings of Lord Vinayaka by reciting his 108 names. Mantra are associated with planet Budha or Mercury and narrating them will infuse positive vibes into the emerald. Emerald also happens to be the stone studded on Lord Budha's (Mercury)crown. Imagine and concentrate on Lord Budha or Vishnu or any other forms of Vishnu you are more familiar with, when you are reciting. Recite one of the following mantra 108 times for best results.

OM THARACHANDRA SUTHAYA VIDMAHE VISHNUPRIYAYA DHEEMAHEE THANNO BUDHA PRACHODAYAT.

(OR)

OM BRAAM BREEM BROUM SAHA BUDHAYE NAMAHA.
This mantra should be recited every Wednesday during the first hour from sunrise for 5 continuous Wednesdays. Mung Bean is associated with this planet and hence it will be ideal to include it as offering during the pooja. The ruling-deity for Budha or Mercury is Lord Vishnu or Lord Narayana (the protector among the trinity - Brahma, Siva, Vishnu).

If all these ceremonials make you dizzy, opt for qualified purohit to perform all these complicated and arduous processes.

Composition of emeralds

Emerald is a variety of beryl, which is a silicate of aluminium and beryllium, and its crystals belong to the hexagonal system. Emeralds owe their green colour to some of the aluminium ions in the crystal lattice being replaced by chromium ones during formation. This gem is rarely found as clean crystals - they are mostly badly flawed.