<BGSOUND SRC="lonesometonight.mid" LOOP="INFINITE"> Lab-Created Rubies and Emeralds Lab-created(synthetic) rubies and emeralds are real but not natural. Real because they have all the same chemical properties as natural rubies and emeralds,(with the exception of certain differences in some of the inclusions),but not natural since these stones are grown in the laboratory and not the ground. By examining the inclusions in each stone, only the trained eye of a gemologist using proper equipment can distinguish lab-created from natural stones. Ruby A widely used and inexpensive method of producing synthetic rubies is the flame-fusion process. The necessary ingredients are melted and let drip onto a boule, much like candle wax dripping, and then allowing the melt to crystallize at normal pressure. Flame-fusion rubies have a very unnatural crystal system and can be produced in a matter of hours. The stones don't look natural (glassy) but can be classified as synthetic ruby nonetheless. Flame-fusion rubies can be purchased for a few dollars a carat. The stone is tough but cheap. It is commonly found in costume jewelery, class rings, and lower priced karat gold jewelery. Another method is the flux-growth process. Basically it involves dissolving the chemicals to make the gem in a molten chemical (called a flux), and letting them crystallize under controlled conditions. The growth rate is very slow, taking many months for crystals to form. The crystal structure duplicates natural and is unlike flame-fusion in which growth planes are curved rather than straight. Very often, flux-grown rubies have inclusions that can be difficult to separate from natural inclusions. This is not the case with flame-fusion stones which may have only tiny gas bubbles. Flux stones look more natural because they possess that body of color typical of natural stones. Growth time plus the low production yield make the cost of producing flux ruby a lot more expensive than flame-fusion stones. Depending on quality and size, flux-grown rubies can cost from 100 to 500 dollars a carat. When you consider that natural rubies of the same size and quality can cost 10 to 20 times a flux-grown stone, this is an alternative to be explored. Emerald Like the better quality rubies, emeralds are also created by a flux process. In 1938, Carrol F Chatham announced he had discovered how to grow emeralds in a controlled laboratory environment. Chatham-created emeralds are not imitations and bear the same properties as their natural counterparts. Only the trained eye of a gemologist using proper equipment can distinguish a Chatham from a natural emerald by examining the inclusions in each stone. Today, Chatham is not the only company producing lab-created emeralds but they were the first. Natural emeralds that equal the quality of the best grade lab-created stones are very rare. A fine qualiity emerald of good color and clarity is so rare that it surpasses a diamond in value. Lab-created stones can be had at a fraction of the cost. If you have questions or comments, please send me an email
Lab-created(synthetic) rubies and emeralds are real but not natural. Real because they have all the same chemical properties as natural rubies and emeralds,(with the exception of certain differences in some of the inclusions),but not natural since these stones are grown in the laboratory and not the ground. By examining the inclusions in each stone, only the trained eye of a gemologist using proper equipment can distinguish lab-created from natural stones.
A widely used and inexpensive method of producing synthetic rubies is the flame-fusion process. The necessary ingredients are melted and let drip onto a boule, much like candle wax dripping, and then allowing the melt to crystallize at normal pressure. Flame-fusion rubies have a very unnatural crystal system and can be produced in a matter of hours. The stones don't look natural (glassy) but can be classified as synthetic ruby nonetheless. Flame-fusion rubies can be purchased for a few dollars a carat. The stone is tough but cheap. It is commonly found in costume jewelery, class rings, and lower priced karat gold jewelery.
Another method is the flux-growth process. Basically it involves dissolving the chemicals to make the gem in a molten chemical (called a flux), and letting them crystallize under controlled conditions. The growth rate is very slow, taking many months for crystals to form. The crystal structure duplicates natural and is unlike flame-fusion in which growth planes are curved rather than straight. Very often, flux-grown rubies have inclusions that can be difficult to separate from natural inclusions. This is not the case with flame-fusion stones which may have only tiny gas bubbles. Flux stones look more natural because they possess that body of color typical of natural stones. Growth time plus the low production yield make the cost of producing flux ruby a lot more expensive than flame-fusion stones. Depending on quality and size, flux-grown rubies can cost from 100 to 500 dollars a carat. When you consider that natural rubies of the same size and quality can cost 10 to 20 times a flux-grown stone, this is an alternative to be explored.
Like the better quality rubies, emeralds are also created by a flux process. In 1938, Carrol F Chatham announced he had discovered how to grow emeralds in a controlled laboratory environment. Chatham-created emeralds are not imitations and bear the same properties as their natural counterparts. Only the trained eye of a gemologist using proper equipment can distinguish a Chatham from a natural emerald by examining the inclusions in each stone. Today, Chatham is not the only company producing lab-created emeralds but they were the first. Natural emeralds that equal the quality of the best grade lab-created stones are very rare. A fine qualiity emerald of good color and clarity is so rare that it surpasses a diamond in value. Lab-created stones can be had at a fraction of the cost.
If you have questions or comments, please send me an email
