Ancient Egypt is home to the first known emerald mines, and Cleopatra is the OG emerald fanatic. Claiming to be the reincarnation of the Egyptian goddess, Isis (Caesar would later erect a golden statue of Cleopatra as Isis in a Roman temple), Cleopatra’s passion for emeralds wasn’t just skin deep: she believed emeralds had healing powers, as well as properties of fertility and rebirth.

While Egyptians linked emeralds with healing abilities and fertility, Ottoman sultans believed they imparted faithfulness and unchanging love on its wearer. The green gemstone was also thought to invigorate the body, calm the mind, imbue wisdom upon its wearer, and even bestow the ability to see the future. In a way, the mystical fascination with Cleopatra parallels a historical fascination of emeralds.

And whether you believe these or not, emerald sure is a beauty to be behold. We're here to ponder: are emeralds any greener on the other side?

As a member of the largely known beryl family, emerald is the green to greenish blue variety, sister to gemstones such as aquamarine and morganite. (Photo Courtesy LEFT: Eric Welch/GIA)

Green is the associated color of many valued things in life--nature, wealth, health, etc.--because of which, emeralds are a highly valued gem both figuratively and economically. It is, in our opinion, most beautifully captured on authentic vintage or antique-inspired jewelry settings, especially with accents of yellow gold.

Inclusions, or imperfections that can lower the clarity grade of an emerald, are a natural part of the character of emeralds and to be expected.

As GIA best states it, "three-phase inclusions in Colombian emeralds contain tiny crystals of rock salt, liquid, and a bubble of gas." (Photomicrograph Courtesy RIGHT: Nathan Renfro)

Our FAB Lab-Grown Colored Gems have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as their mined counterparts. The only real difference is the origin: one comes from the earth, the other from a state-of-the-art lab.

One of the biggest perks of choosing a Fire & Brilliance lab-grown gem? Fewer inclusions. Since our gems are created in a controlled environment, they typically don’t have the internal flaws that natural stones often carry. These flaws may lead to cracks, cavities, and durability issues. Fewer inclusions mean stronger, longer-lasting sparkle.

Every FAB stone is crafted to meet the highest standards of cut, color, clarity, finish, and polish. Unless otherwise requested, we only offer “eye clean” gems ensuring top-tier beauty and quality you can see.

See our example of the Lab-Grown Emerald below.

• Natural means rare, unique in nature--such as one's love for another.
• Inclusions are imperfections that some like to embrace as part of the mined gem culture, proof each gem is one of a kind
• Classic, has an old world charm to it
• Comes with a story