Lab Created Emeralds
Lab Created Emeralds
Lab-Grown Emerald
Lab-grown emeralds have been available since the 1930s and methods to produce these precious stones have only gotten better with time. Over 600,000 carat weights combined of emeralds are produced each year, and with growing demand, this quota will rise to supply more markets.
There’s so much to know about lab-grown emeralds, their uses, maintenance tips, origins, and much more. Check out all the vital details in this article to know more about lab-grown emeralds and if they’re perfect for your jewelry collection or other purposes.
History of Lab-Grown Emeralds
Alchemists and mineralogists of ancient times attempted to transmute common minerals into precious stones for several centuries without success. It was until the late 1700s before scientific methods feasible enough to produce lab-grown precious stones.
Early efforts by chemists like Gay-Lussac, Acheson, and Czochralski devised practical methods to create precious stones with a combination of elements. The earliest successful synthesis of emeralds, rubies, and sapphires came in the late 1810s; however, advances in the 1930s to 1960s created stable gems using different methods.
How are Lab-Grown Emeralds Made?
Hydrothermal method
The hydrothermal method involves these steps:
- Raw elements to produce rubies are placed in an airtight environment,
- Corundum seed plates are suspended at the growth chamber while nutrients are placed underneath,
- The chamber is heated up to between 400C and 600°C.,
- Pressure on elements in the container stands between 5,000 psi and 30,000 psi,
- Nutrients dissolve to form a solution that deposits fresh corundum growth over the seed crystal.
The size of resulting emeralds depend on the volume of its seed crystal and growth nutrient. Other variants might also have special features unavailable on regularly-made hydrothermal gemstones. Some hydrothermal biron emeralds (special stones grown in Western Australia) might be inert to UV rays and possess better density numbers than regular variants.
Flux method
Emeralds form through the flux process when:
- Elements for the crystal are heated in a platinum crucible with a flux mineral (usually beryllium) to accelerate melting,
- Intense heating of crystals continue to form platinum platelets in its construction and grow the emerald gem
The longer a flux emerald spends under its culture process determines its size, density, and glimmer.
How Hydrothermal Zambian and Colombian Emeralds are Made?
Hydrothermal Zambian emeralds form through a growth process with natural stones enhanced to emit a deep green color. These emeralds are relatively cheaper than earth-mined variants.
Colombian hydrothermal emeralds form with a unique set of blotches and growth lines throughout its internal structure. Hydrothermal Colombian emeralds are hard to distinguish from natural variants and possess superior hardness, glitter, and other features.
Uses of Lab-Grown Emeralds
Most lab-grown emeralds are useful as:
- Loose gemstones,
- Detailing on glasswork or luxury windows, and
- Adornments on musical instruments, jewelry, art pieces, etc.
Emeralds are easy to work with and provide designers with enough support to create beautiful pieces for various needs.
Chemical Properties of Lab-Grown Emeralds
- Main element(s) formula: beryllium aluminum silicate (Be3Al2(SiO3)6)
- Specific gravity: 2.67 – 2.78
- Refractive index: 1.566 – 1.600
- Pleochroism: Weak to distinct
- Optical nature: Uniaxial
- Luster: Vitreous
- Hardness: 7.5
- Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
- Dispersion: Low (@ 0.014)
- Crystal system: Hexagonal
- Cleavage: Imperfect, basal
- Birefringence: 0.004 – 0.010
Maintenance Tips for Lab-Grown Emeralds
Emerald gems could last very long and provide the brilliance and glitter you seek from precious stones. Proper maintenance is crucial to keep your lab-grown emeralds in great shape. Here’s how to ensure your lab-grown emeralds get proper maintenance to serve you for much longer:
- Gently polish its surface with a dry cloth,
- Clean its surface with a liquid soap and water solution before rinsing and allowing to air dry,
- Store it in an airtight, cushioned container free from humidity, dust, and other elements,
- Soak it in a baking soda and vinegar solution for 10mins before cleaning and storage
Consult your jeweler for tips to keep your gemstones in great shape. Following the advice of an qualified jeweler might be enough to preserve your emeralds from permanent damage.