Lab Grown White Sapphire and Green Emerald Alternating Tennis Necklace

The Idea

Tennis necklaces have been trending long enough that the plain diamond version has become predictable. Aurate's answer is to alternate — white sapphire, green emerald, white sapphire, green emerald — in a rhythm that reads as polished rather than busy. The contrast between the icy white and the deep, cool green is legitimately beautiful, and it photographs better than almost anything else at this price point.

What You're Actually Buying

Let's be straightforward: this is 14k gold vermeil, meaning gold-plated sterling silver. That's not a dirty word — vermeil is a legitimate fine jewelry category, and Aurate is transparent about it — but it's a real distinction from solid 14k gold. At $918, you're paying for the design, the lab-grown gems (which are chemically identical to mined stones), and Aurate's quality controls, not for a piece that will outlast your grandchildren. With careful wear and proper storage, vermeil can last years; with daily rough use, the plating will eventually wear at stress points.

The lab-grown sapphires and emeralds are the stronger argument for the price. Lab-grown stones are optically and chemically the same as their mined counterparts — the only difference is origin. You get real sparkle, real color depth, none of the ethical ambiguity of mined gemstones, and a stone that won't fade or cloud.

Fit and Wearability

At 16 inches, this sits at the base of the throat — classically collarbone-length on most people, closer to a choker on longer necks. It's a length that works beautifully with V-necks, scoop necks, and open collars, and the alternating stone pattern is dense enough that the necklace has real visual presence without being heavy (it weighs just over an ounce). The listing calls it unisex, which tracks — the design has no explicitly gendered cues, just geometry and color.

Aurate lists a matching alternating tennis bracelet sold separately, and the pairing is genuinely cohesive if you want a full set. We'd wear the necklace alone first — it holds its own.

The Color Story

The green-and-white combination is having a sustained moment in jewelry right now, but this specific execution doesn't feel trend-chasing. Deep green and bright white have enough classical authority — think vintage brooches, old-money cocktail rings — that the necklace should read well beyond whatever the current cycle is. It's not a neutral, but it's a considered statement.

The Honest Caveat

Nearly a thousand dollars for a vermeil piece is a hard sell if you're comparing it to what solid gold buys at that budget from other brands. You're paying partly for Aurate's brand positioning and partly for the lab-grown gem density, which is real value — but it's worth going in clear-eyed. If longevity of the metal is your priority, either budget up to solid gold or budget down to a piece where you're not stretching to afford it.