Turquoise Lab Emerald Birthstone Basics Earrings in 14K Rose Gold

Turquoise is the birthstone for the month of December and the gift given in celebration of the fifth and eleventh wedding anniversaries. Since the days of the ancient Egyptians, turquoise has been known throughout the world and has been in great demand. Turquoise was one of the first gemstones ever mined, perhaps dating back to 6000 BC, in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. The name turquoise comes from the same French word, Turquoise, meaning Turkish, since it originally arrived in Europe through Turkey, originating in Iran. Turquoise has been mined in Iran for over 3,000 years. It has been used for thousands of years for jewelry by the Ancient Egyptians, who buried fine pieces with mummies. Aztecs fashioned elaborate turquoise masks. Today, Native Americans, especially the Zuni and Navajo peoples, produce the most renowned pieces in the US, such as turquoise and silver bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, pendants, brooches, and belt buckles. In the past, the stone was also used as beads in ... learn more

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

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