There are gemstones we admire, and then there are gemstones that have fascinated civilizations. Emerald belongs to the latter.
For thousands of years, its unmistakable green has adorned queens, emperors and some of the world’s most extraordinary jewels. Emerald is the green variety of the mineral beryl—the same mineral family as aquamarine—and the finest emerald color ranges from rich green to bluish green, with saturation playing an important role in its beauty.
But emerald has never been simply about color. It has always carried a little mystery. A Gemstone Fit for a Queen.
Few names are as intertwined with emerald as Cleopatra. The legendary Egyptian queen was known for her passion for emeralds and wore them in her royal adornments. Egypt’s historic emerald mines date back more than two thousand years, and emerald became deeply associated with the magnificence of the ancient world.
Across the ocean, emeralds were treasured by the civilizations of South America long before Europeans arrived. The Incas incorporated them into jewelry and religious ceremonies, while Colombian emeralds would eventually become so coveted that they introduced European and Asian royalty to an entirely new level of magnificent green.
For centuries, emerald has therefore carried associations with royalty, abundance and power. Perhaps that is why wearing one still feels a little imperial.
The Color of Rebirth, Love & New Beginnings. Emerald’s symbolism is as beautiful as the stone itself.
Its lush green has long evoked spring, renewal and rebirth, making emerald the natural birthstone of May. It is also traditionally given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. Ancient legends attributed almost magical qualities to emerald. It was once believed to reveal truth, inspire eloquence and even expose the sincerity, or falseness—of a lover’s promises.
Maybe that’s part of emerald’s enduring seduction. Green feels alive. It is the color of gardens, growth, possibility and nature at its most abundant. An extraordinary emerald doesn’t merely add color to a jewel—it commands attention.
From Cleopatra to the Red Carpet. Thousands of years later, emerald hasn’t lost an ounce of its glamour.
Elizabeth Taylor famously owned an extraordinary Bvlgari emerald suite, which later sold at Christie’s for nearly $24.8 million.
And then came one of modern jewelry’s unforgettable red-carpet moments: Angelina Jolie in spectacular emerald drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz. Against a black gown, the intense green became the entire statement—a modern reminder that sometimes one extraordinary color is all a woman needs.
At the very highest end of the market, exceptional natural emeralds can reach astonishing prices. The legendary 18.04-carat Rockefeller Emerald sold at Christie’s in 2017 for $5,511,500, establishing what was then a world auction record per carat for an emerald.
Why?
Because extraordinary natural emeralds combine several things that rarely occur together: remarkable color, transparency, size and beauty. And rarity has always had a price.
And Now, a New Era of Emerald Begins. Today, innovation allows us to experience emerald differently.
Lab-created emeralds possess the beauty, chemistry and crystal structure of emerald, but are grown under carefully controlled conditions rather than extracted from the earth. And that changes what is possible in jewelry. The intense, lush greens and beautiful clarity we associate with exceptional emeralds can now be achieved without requiring the extraordinary rarity—and corresponding price—of a comparable fine natural stone.
It means we can dream bigger. More color. More presence. More drama.
And emeralds designed not simply to be kept away for special occasions, but to be worn, enjoyed and loved. That philosophy inspired our newest creations at Analucia® Lab Grown Diamonds: magnificent lab-created emeralds embraced by the brilliance of lab-grown diamonds, designed with all the grandeur this legendary gemstone deserves.
Because technology shouldn’t take the romance away from fine jewelry. It should give more women access to it.
Introducing our IMPERIALE suite. Our first lab-created emerald designs have arrived. Lush green. Brilliant diamonds. Regal proportions.
A modern interpretation of a gemstone that has captivated women for more than two thousand years.
The emerald has always belonged to queens. Now, she belongs to you.
