30 Emerald Jewelry Pieces For Those Who Love May's Birthstone

May’s birthstone is the precious emerald, prized for its rich and vivid green color. Below, 30 emerald jewelry pieces to fall in love with.

Vogue Arabia, December 2021. Photo: Antonio Dicorato

In the Dolce Vita years of the 50’s and 60’s, Roman jeweler Bulgari’s colored gemstone creations attracted a veritable who’s who of the film industry, both from Hollywood and Cinecitta, Rome’s own legendary film studios. Bulgari’s Via Condotti store was the place to see and be seen, with clients including some of the world’s most glamorous women; Gina Lollobrigida, Anita Ekberg, Audrey Hepburn and most notably, Elizabeth Taylor.

An insatiable consumer of jewels, Taylor owned a veritable treasure trove of extraordinary pieces from the Italian house. On her wedding day to Richard Burton in 1964, she wore a Bulgari diamond and emerald brooch that Burton had gifted her during their engagement, pinned to her daffodil-yellow chiffon dress, completing her look with hyacinths and lilies of the valley, in her hair. In the words of Richard Burton, ‘The only word Elizabeth knows in Italian is Bulgari’. Though no longer with us, Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary love of Bulgari and its emeralds lives on. And she’s not the only one who had a soft spot for May’s birthstone.

Over the years, several celebrities, from Angelina Jolie to Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, have proven their love for emerald jewelry pieces. These vibrant green treasures look especially beautiful when paired with all-white ensembles, or even black red carpet gowns. Weather you pair them with sparkling diamonds, rich gold, or even other colorful gems like sapphires and rubies, there’s no denying the timeless appeal of a beautifully crafted emerald jewelry piece.

Inspired by Elizabeth Taylor’s love of emeralds? Then feast your eyes on our edit of her favorite gemstone, from chunky cocktail rings, to delicate neckpieces, lush green tennis bracelets, and heirloom-worthy earrings.