Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra, and Venus: emeralds are the gems of goddesses. Chatham invented lab-grown emeralds 75 years ago so it’s not surprising we grow the best emeralds on earth.

Chatham grows emerald crystals in a secret lengthy process we invented 75 years ago. It takes about a year from start to finish: the crystals grow for about nine months. We start with a naturally mined seed of fine Colombian emerald with perfect color. We create a controlled environment rich in chromium to give our crystals a rich green hue. The crystals grow larger and cleaner than the emeralds grown in nature. When we cut the crystals, we cut away 80% of the rough to give you faceted emeralds that are essentially flawless in clarity and highly saturated in color. The price difference between the finest lab-grown and mined emerald of the same size and quality can be as much as $100,000 per carat!

For the ancient Romans, emeralds were the gems of Venus, powerful love and fertility charms. In ancient Egypt, emeralds were Cleopatra’s favorite gem. Elizabeth Taylor loved emerald necklaces and rings. Style icons the Duchess of Windsor, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Halle Berry rocked emerald engagement rings. Angelina Jolie and Sofia Vergara stun in emerald earrings on the red carpet. Clearly emerald jewelry is for women who shine in the spotlight.