Lab Emerald Garnet Halo Earrings in 14K Gold

The emerald has been a gem of fascination for over six thousand years. It is so prized that a fine emerald may be twice as valuable as a diamond. Emerald was first translated from Sanskrit as "marakata," meaning "the green of growing things." The name we know it as now is believed to come from an ancient Persian word, "smaragdus." Over time, it was corrupted to "emerald." Records show that the stone was known and sold in markets in Babylon as early as 4000 BC. The stone was worshiped by the Incas and mentioned in biblical information about the apocalypse. The earliest reference to emeralds in Western literature comes from Aristotle. He was a great fan of the gemstone. He wrote that owning an emerald increases the owner's importance in business and gives victory in trials. It also helps settle litigation and comforts and soothes eyesight. He also stated, "An emerald hung from the neck or worn in a ring will prevent the falling sickness (epilepsy). We, therefore, commend noblemen that it... learn more

Garnet is the birthstone for January and the stone that celebrates the 2nd anniversary of marriage. The name "garnet" comes from the Latin word "Garanatus," meaning 'seedlike', in reference to a pomegranate. This reference makes sense as small garnets look like the bright red seeds you find inside in a pomegranate. The garnet has been a popular gem throughout history. Garnets were found as beads in a necklace worn by a young man in a grave that dates back to 3000 B.C. This is proof of the hardness and durability of the stone.... learn more

Many different gemstones can be bought in today's market. There are sapphires, opals, rubies, emeralds and more. What you may not know, however, is that all of these gemstones may not be what they appear. Some gemstones on the market are not natural gemstones, and should be marked by the seller as either "lab-created" or "simulated". You may find that some of these so-called "fake" gemstones may be almost as expensive as their natural counterpoints! This may seem suspicious to you, but actually, it is an accepted practice in the jewelry trade, that is, if the "fake" is actually grown in a laboratory, which makes it quite real in fact.... learn more