What gemstones are grown artificially? M. babin. growing ruby ​​crystals (blue, yellow and white sapphire) at home

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A lot of myths have developed around jewelry with synthesized, that is, artificially grown stones and jewelry with imitation inserts. It's time to get rid of these delusions!

Subtleties of classification

Jewelry stones, created not by nature, but by man, can be divided into synthetic (synthesized) and imitations. The former have a natural, real-life analogue and completely coincide with it in color, composition, hardness and other physical and chemical properties. For example, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires are natural and synthetic. Lab-grown stones gain commercially attractive weight in a matter of months, while in nature this process takes centuries.

The term "synthetic" in relation to precious stones "from a test tube" is considered unfortunate in the jewelry environment, since consumers associate it with imitation and even fake. Jewelry with such stones, of course, has a more affordable price than with nuggets mined in mines and mines, but they cannot be called glass. By law, the manufacturer is required to indicate on the product label information that the stone is artificially grown. It is possible to distinguish synthesized stones from natural ones with the help of an examination in a gemological center, but not by sight.

Imitations are made of glass, minerals, metals, ceramics, plastic. They do not have a natural analogue, since they were “invented” in the laboratory. So, neither Swarovski crystals nor cubic zirconia have a similarity in nature, although they look like rock crystal and even diamonds. Imitating jewelry inserts are used in the manufacture of jewelry and accessories (watches), less often in jewelry.

Synthesized stones: a bit of history

The first synthetic stone - a 10-carat ruby ​​- was obtained in 1891 by the French mineralogist Auguste Verneuil. Using the Verneuil method, it became possible to grow crystals suitable for jewelry use, and in 1910 synthetic sapphire was obtained in a similar way. Artificial emerald, identical to natural, was first grown in 1935.

But with the best friends of girls - diamonds - not everything is so simple. In 1954, the laboratory of the American company General Electric "ripened" the first artificial diamond, whose growth cycle could be repeated on an industrial scale. But it was a mineral of technical significance, not jewelry. Today, millions of carats of diamonds and diamond chips are produced annually in the world for the needs of manufacturers of various devices, devices, and tools.

Gem-quality artificial diamonds were developed by Herbert Strong and Robert Wentorf (both of General Electric) in 1970, but their counterparts have failed to fill the jewelry market today. The process of growing the King of Stones is long, complicated and costly compared to other gems of laboratory origin. A diamond cut from a synthetic crystal can cost from 50% to 90% of the price of a natural nugget similar in weight and processing, or even exceed its cost. According to scientists, this direction is the future, but for now there is no need to fear that real diamonds in the jewelry business will be replaced by grown ones.

Imitation inserts: a bit of history

The most popular imitations of precious and semi-precious stones in jewelry are cubic zirconia and Swarovski crystals (rhinestones). Remember, cubic zirconia is not an artificial diamond! It does not contain the main element for diamonds - carbon, but there is zirconium oxide. Fianite was obtained in the mid-1960s by scientists from the P.I. Lebedev Physical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (FIAN), after which it is named.

Georg Strass, a glassmaker and jeweler with German roots, who lived in French Alsace, invented in the 18th century to imitate diamonds using faceted lead glass. The surname of the master became the name of his invention: spectacular inserts were called "rhinestones". A century later, Strass's ideas were developed by Daniel Swarovski, a hereditary cutter of Bohemian crystal. He improved the composition of rhinestones, the quality of polishing and the durability of spraying, so that they were not inferior to diamonds with their beauty of cut, transparency, play of light and brilliance. In 1895, in Austria, Daniel founded the Swarovski company to sell his products to the whole world, and especially to the fashion designers of Paris. The business of a talented cutter, inventor of the first electric cutting machine (1892), thanks to the work of his descendants, is still flourishing. Swarovski crystals (rhinestones) have 12 facets, are made of high-quality crystal (glass with 32% lead oxide content) with the addition of powder of synthetic and natural stones of jewelry value.

Why do we need synthetic stones and imitations

First of all, "substitutes" for precious stones are good because they make jewelry more affordable. Buying a ring with artificially grown emerald without spending too much for your own budget or saving money for several months on the beauty created by nature is everyone's personal choice. And those who do not need to save up to purchase jewelry masterpieces prefer to wear inexpensive copies of jewelry outside of red carpets and gala dinners. Beyoncé, whose engagement ring with an 18-carat diamond is valued at $5 million, sets an example: for every day, the singer has a copy of this ring, which costs 1,000 times less - $5,000.

Also, the "alternative of luxury" fits into the global eco-trend - concern for the preservation of the environment, because the deposits of some precious stones are close to depletion these days.

And, finally, it is much easier to obtain ideal characteristics from a grown stone in terms of carat weight, color, light refraction, and the absence of any defects - inclusions, microcracks, and so on. There are laboratory centers for the production of synthetic stones in Russia, China, India, the USA, Sweden and other countries of the world.

Since people understood the nature of precious stones, learned their composition and revealed the conditions of formation, they have been striving to become like nature and reproduce stones with their own hands with the help of more and more new knowledge and technologies, and today they are successfully succeeding. Now people know how to make many types of jewelry and jewelry and semi-precious stones, which could not but affect the attitude towards minerals and prices, although the reason for the production of most stones is primarily the requirements of the industry, and only secondly - the demands of the jewelry market. However, passions around natural minerals and their artificially grown counterparts do not subside: there are lovers of natural stones who consider grown stones to be something fake, a kind of surrogate, and there are those who like any mineral, whether it is grown by man or nature.

In order not to get confused, you should immediately decide: there are imitations, but there are synthetic analogues of natural stones. Imitation- this is a material similar to natural stones in appearance and in some properties; imitations can be both artificially created minerals, and natural, natural, as well as materials that have nothing to do with minerals (glasses, plastics, etc.) or are combinations of all these materials. For example, natural colorless zircon, and artificially created cubic zirconia (which is often called zirconium in the trade), and simple glass, which does not even have a crystalline structure, can serve as imitations of a colorless diamond. If the seller passes off these materials as a diamond, they can be considered fakes. Synthetic analog- a mineral created by man, that is, artificially grown (for example, a synthetic diamond). Its characteristics correspond to the chemical composition, physical and optical properties of a diamond, and sometimes even surpass them, and its origin can only be established in a gemological laboratory, and with some stones it is difficult - they are so close to natural. In the "Gem Gallery" catalog you can see jewelry, in the descriptions of which the terms "synthesized ruby", "synthesized opal", etc. are used. - these are the grown stones.

Perhaps it cannot be attributed to one or the other category. improved materials- natural minerals, which have improved (in fact, changed) texture and / or color. This can be done by heating, X-ray irradiation, impregnation with resins, polymers, dyes, and the like. For example, reinforced turquoise is a natural, but very loose and soft turquoise, unsuitable in this form for jewelry inserts, which is strengthened by impregnation with special resins and sometimes dyes. It is clear that in this form, turquoise can no longer be considered completely natural, natural.

In our article, we will only talk about human-grown stones - we will look at some artificially created stones that are used for inserts in jewelry. Diamond

“I knew that it would take ten years, or even twenty, which could take away from a person all his strength, all his energy, but even then the game was worth the candle,” said the hero of H. G. Wells’ story “The Man Who Made Diamonds ". Usually, the synthesis of mineral crystals is associated with their demand in industry, in their application in high technology, but the stone itself attracts people, and the ability to repeat nature is even more so. diamond was one of the first such minerals. The first attempts to get diamonds were registered at the end of the 19th century, but they were unsuccessful. For the first time, artificial diamonds were synthesized in Sweden and the USA in 1954 (General Electric Company), and officially six years later - in the USSR. However, back in 1939, professor-physicist Ovsey Ilyich Leipunsky from the Institute of Chemical Physics described a method for obtaining diamonds, which involved the use of high pressures and temperatures of 1500-3000 degrees. Under these conditions, the loose crystal lattice of graphite can transform into a dense packing of the diamond structure. Such conditions were technically impossible at that time, but Leipunsky's work was studied by many specialists, including the Swedes; they later used the method described by O. I. Leipunsky: pressure, temperature, as well as the addition of iron and some other materials to graphite. This facilitates the synthesis process, carbon becomes mobile and forms a diamond lattice faster. The size of the crystals obtained at that time did not exceed only 0.8 mm, therefore they were used as abrasives. Large diamond crystals were synthesized later, this procedure is much more complicated and expensive. It is especially costly to synthesize large, more than one carat, and namely colorless diamond crystals, so their mass production is impossible, and there are mainly stones weighing one carat or less on the market.

One of the world's largest manufacturers of synthetic rough and polished diamonds, the Belarusian enterprise Adamas BSU (Adamas BSU), uses the BARS method (non-pressing apparatus "Cut Sphere") here. The basic technology based on this method was developed back in the USSR at the very beginning of the nineties; technology stands for "a method of diamond crystallization from a carbon solution under conditions of a temperature gradient in a metal melt based on iron and nickel using high pressures." It will take about a hundred hours to synthesize a diamond weighing one carat in the BARS apparatus, which will be six cycles per month, that is, six carats. Unfortunately, only mass production of bright yellow crystals is possible. There are similar installations in Russia too, but they do not work for the jewelry market. Adamas BGU produces both technical raw materials and materials for the jewelry industry, and the share of the latter is steadily growing. This is due to a combination of reasons: a decrease in the production of natural diamonds, a constant increase in demand for diamonds, the decision of leading gemological laboratories, for example, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) to accept synthetic diamonds for certification, the development of technology that makes it possible to obtain crystals of ever larger and more fancy colors while reducing the amount of "idle" synthesis. The market is gradually getting used to synthetic diamonds, and Belarus even adopted a special national program to develop the production of synthetic diamonds. However, there is no need to talk about cheap diamond jewelry yet. Corundum (sapphire, ruby)

Some of the most outstanding achievements of science and technology, as a rule, are marked by the use of mineral crystals, their unique properties: optical, piezoelectric, semiconductor and others. The very first corundums in Russia were also initially synthesized with the aim of applying them in science: in precision instrumentation, the watch industry, etc. In 1936, the first corundum growing plant in Russia was put into operation, and soon a permanent production was established. The first industrial method for obtaining corundum (as well as spinel) and still the most common is the Verneuil method.

The French chemist Auguste Verneuil began his experiments on growing minerals at the end of the 19th century, but 1905 is considered the official year of birth of the first synthetic corundums. The method, in brief, is as follows: alumina powder is fed along with oxygen into a burner fire, which in turn is fed with hydrogen. A hydrogen-oxygen flame at about 2050 degrees melts the powder, and the melt flows onto the prepared crystal carrier. Solidifying, the melt forms not a mineral crystal in the usual sense, but the so-called mineral boule - a rounded rod. Today it is possible to grow boules up to 5-8 cm in length and 2 cm in circumference (40-45 grams = 200-250 carats) in just a few hours. To get red corundum (ruby), chromium oxide is added to aluminum oxide powder; blue (sapphire) - add iron oxide and titanium. Nickel will color Corundum yellow. Star rubies and sapphires can also be grown. It has been produced in a similar way since the 1920s. spinel; for this, magnesium oxide and aluminum oxide are used. Spinels usually impart a sapphire blue, beautiful aquamarine or green coloration. "Gems Gallery" can bring to the attention of lovers of precious stones jewelry with high quality synthetic ruby ​​and sapphire.

Every year, 200 tons of synthetic corundum and spinel are produced all over the world for various needs. Faceted, they are indistinguishable from natural gemstones without special equipment and are gaining more and more space under the sun. But can they finally replace natural rubies and sapphires? Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a variety of chryso beryl. This rare and very expensive stone belongs to the precious and has a unique effect: in daylight it is green, and in artificial light it turns red. The closest in properties imitation of Alexandrite and at the same time the most inexpensive is the same Corundum, only with the addition of vanadium and titanium during the synthesis process, which gives the stone an Alexandrite effect with an intense reverse from a faint bluish-greenish-gray to a rich red-violet, amethyst color. Actually synthetic Alexandrite is also grown; it is the most expensive synthetic analogue after a diamond. Information about the successful synthesis of an analogue of chryso-beryl-Alexandrite dates back to the second half of the 19th century.

In the USA, in 1964, an industrial method for obtaining alexandrite was tested, and since 1972, Creative Crystals (Saint-Ramon, Danville, California) has been growing alexandrite crystals using the flux method from solution. The solution of beryllium and aluminum oxides, cooling, serves as a "nutrient medium" for Alexandrite crystals, which grow from seven to nine weeks. In this way, the most beautiful Alexandrite crystals are obtained, which are difficult to distinguish from the famous Ural ones, which once made up the glory of Russian gems. The Japanese, on the other hand, produce Alexandrite by the Czochralski method (pulling a crystal from the melt) and call their product "inamori" and "cresent-vert": it also has the effect of a cat's eye, and its color changes from greenish-yellow in daylight to red-violet in artificial light. .

In Russia, Alexandrite has been grown since 1980 in Novosibirsk, at the Design and Technological Institute of Single Crystals. It goes both for technical and jewelry purposes; some crystals reach half a kilogram in weight. Although the synthetic analogue corresponds to natural Alexandrite both in chemical formula and in most properties, natural Alexandrite remains unsurpassed in beauty. It looks great in gold, as, for example, in turquoise earrings from the Gem Gallery collection.

Natural Alexandrite (like any other natural stone) has inclusions, cracks and other defects that are invisible to the eye, which do not reduce the aesthetic effect, but greatly interfere with the use of crystals in precision instrumentation, in particular, in Alexandrite lasers in medical cosmetology and eye microsurgery, therefore synthetic stones that do not have defects and have all the desired properties are ideal for this purpose. Emerald

Modern technologies make it possible to grow defect-free and fairly large Emerald crystals, which is very rare for natural crystals. By and large, grown Emeralds are no different from natural ones, except that they are too perfect. Synthetic Emeralds were obtained even before the Second World War, after which research in this area resumed with renewed vigor. The Americans from the Chatham company were among the first to establish the industrial synthesis of synthetic Emeralds from solutions in the melt. Of course, in the USSR it was also decided to create Emeralds, only by “our” method, according to new technology. Now this technology, created in the 1970s by Novosibirsk scientists, is known all over the world, and Emeralds created with its help are called Russian Emeralds. We are still ahead of the rest: the Tyrus company, which was founded in 1989 on the basis of the Joint Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences by the same Siberian creators of Emeralds, is the market leader in artificial gems. Only in Tyrus and nowhere else in the world do they grow another variety of beryl besides the Emerald - aquamarines. For the synthesis of stones, a method is used that is closest to natural - hydrothermal, in an autoclave, using high pressures and temperatures. The process, by and large, is no different, and instead of thousands of years, only two or three months pass.

However, autoclaves, melts and high temperatures are not enough to grow stones; talent, intuition, and much more are needed, which can be called a gift to do this particular business. After all, if you choose the optimal composition of the charge (a mixture that will serve as a material for the growth of crystals) simply by experience, it will take all life, and even knowledge will not always help, rather, the totality of qualities that make a Creator out of a person. Pomegranate

Garnets are ideal crystals for use in lasers; they began to be grown in order to obtain defect-free samples of the desired properties. Almost by accident, they began to be used in the jewelry industry. In the 1960s, the first samples were obtained in the USA, and by the end of the sixties, synthetic Garnets entered the jewelry market. Unlike natural garnets, synthetic garnets can be colorless. This is another illustration of the issue of grown and natural stones, the perfection of the first and the imperfection of the second: the ideal pyrope in nature should have been colorless, but because of the “extra” iron impurities, it is the way we know it - fiery red, and not happens differently.

Synthetic Garnets (Garnetites) are yttrium-aluminum (YAG), gadolinium-gallium (GGG) and yttrium-ferruginous (IGG). Colorless and colored yttrium-aluminum garnets with high hardness (8.5 on the Mohs scale) and a good refractive index, which gives them shine and strong play, turned out to be the most suitable for inserts into jewelry, both in terms of physical and optical properties and economically. YAG is grown in various ways, mainly by the Czochralski method, which gives large crystals that lend themselves well to polishing.

Colorless Garnets sometimes replace diamonds. Even in London, which is notorious for its jewelry conservatism, synthetic garnets began to be sold in the early seventies as adequate substitutes for diamonds. This, in particular, was facilitated by the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor and the sensational story with her pear-shaped diamond. In 1969, Richard Burton (who starred with Taylor in Cleopatra and married her twice) presented her with a pear-shaped diamond weighing 69.42 carats. The actress usually wore this beautiful natural stone as a pendant, but the insurance for one evening cost a thousand dollars. Then Taylor ordered a copy of a diamond made of synthetic Garnet, similar in properties to a diamond, for three and a half thousand dollars. It was not difficult to distinguish the copy when it lay next to the diamond, but individually only an expert could do this. It just so happened that the fear of burglars, and perhaps insurers, contributed to the popularity of synthetic Garnets in general. In the Gem Gallery catalog there is a silver ring with fiery red synthetic Garnets that can outshine even small natural rubies. Quartz (rock crystal, amethyst, citrine, ametrine)

The production of Quartz in comparison with the same diamonds or Emeralds does not cause great difficulties. It is grown hydrothermally in steel autoclaves; the growth rate of crystals is up to 0.5 mm per day. Synthetic Quartz can be given any shade, both imitating natural and fantasy, not found in nature. For example, bright blue Quartz is obtained by adding cobalt; citrine color is provided by iron; the more it is, the brighter the color, to orange-red. Black morion can be grown by increasing the concentration of aluminum, and rauch topaz is also obtained - smoky Quartz. One of the most popular varieties of Quartz - amethyst - is obtained after ionizing irradiation of synthetic smoky Quartz. It is extremely difficult to distinguish from natural, so it is very popular. Synthetic amethyst is most often very bright and clean, without defects and heterogeneities, uniform deep color; stones can be very large, but sometimes their color changes in sunlight and artificial light, demonstrating a kind of alexandrite effect. amethyst brushes are grown in our suburbs, but as long as there is inexpensive African raw materials, there is no need for mass production of amethysts and amethyst brushes. ametrine (amethyst-citrine), a polychrome mineral with two color zones - purple and yellow - was first found in Bolivia, so its second name is bolivianite. But you can grow ametrine artificially; it will cost an order of magnitude lower, and will bring pleasure to the owner no less than natural, which, by the way, can be found in a faceted form in the collection of precious stones and crystals of the Gem Gallery. Opal

Synthetic opal, although with a stretch, can be called proper opal: it also has a layered structure, various colors and play of colors, for example, white opals with multi-colored flashes, cut in the form of pearls and adorned the ring from the Gem Gallery catalog. Like natural, synthesized opal also consists of silicon layers. For a very long time it was believed that opal could not be obtained artificially; the study of the structure of this amazing mineral nevertheless made it possible to understand that synthesis is possible. The first patent for the production of noble opal was received by Australian mineralogists A. Gaskin and P. Darre, and in 1973 the Swiss jewelry firm of Pierre Gilson began selling a wide variety of noble synthetic opals, which were in no way inferior in color and opalescence power to natural stones.

High-quality synthetic opals are also made in Russia. Even when comparing natural and artificial opal, it is difficult to understand which one appeared in the laboratory. In addition, natural noble opal is very expensive, especially black, and incredibly capricious in storage and wear, and grown stones allow you not to be afraid of any accidents. Turquoise

The mentioned firm of Pierre Gilson in the mentioned year 1972 also received artificial turquoise, the closest to natural of all previously obtained, and therefore suitable for inserting into jewelry. Such turquoise is very uniform, has a beautiful turquoise color, and cabochons made of such material are difficult to distinguish from natural ones even in a professional laboratory. All indicators (density, hardness, etc.) are the same, and even the best Iranian turquoise in the world is indistinguishable from artificial. In Russia, both uniform blue and gossamer turquoise are obtained, with a pattern of dark veins. You can try to compare natural turquoise beads and a gold ring with synthetic turquoise from the Gem Gallery collection to see how similar the materials are. Pearl

Pearl is in a special position among minerals: firstly, it is a mineral of organic origin, secondly, artificial, or cultivated. Pearl, in fact, differs from natural only in that it grows in a mollusk shell under human supervision. Back in the 19th century, the Chinese and Japanese began to cultivate Pearls, so it was in the East that a special attitude towards such Pearls developed and their own pearl traditions developed. The mollusks that are able to grow a pearl in their mantle are the martensi pinctada, the maxima pinctada, and the margaritifera pinctada, which grow up to thirty centimeters in diameter. This latter produces black, grey, bluish, green and bronze Pearls.

The method of obtaining Pearls is quite simple: the pearl shell is first grown in fresher water than sea water, in special fenced off areas to avoid attacks by predators; then, after three years, a ball of natural mother-of-pearl (or a piece of mantle) is placed inside the shells; further, pearl mussels grow from one and a half to eight years (on average, two to three years) in more salty water further from the coast. They are protected and cared for. Japanese Akoya cultured pearls are famous all over the world for their wonderful brilliance and various shades. This is a classic cultured pearl. Akoya pearls are produced not only in Japan, but also in Korea, China and Sri Lanka and can be white, yellow, pink, silver, champagne, green, cream.

You can diagnose cultured pearls with the help of ultraviolet rays: it will emit a greenish light, and natural - blue. "Gem Gallery" offers several shades of Pearls: white (classic beads of 45 cm, ideal for a round and oversized neck line), cream (earrings), gray (rings), the collections are constantly updated with new models with different colors.

It is interesting that in Russia there were attempts to grow pearls: the merchants Stroganovs in the 17th century set up experiments in Solvychegodsk, where a pond called Zhemchuzhny was preserved. Cheslav Khmelevsky grew pearls up to 5 mm in diameter in the east of Russia at the beginning of the 19th century. And the victory is awarded...

As it turns out, there are not so many synthetic analogues of jewelry stones; hardly twenty, but this is quite enough for the jewelry market, especially since there are many more imitations of stones, and they are also successfully sold, although the buyer is not always aware of this. And it’s much more pleasant to buy a ruby, albeit synthetic, than a “sandwich” made of glass, quartz and colored glue, and even more expensive. Natural stones, of course, will never lose their buyer; they are valuable because each of them is unique and has been growing for hundreds, millions of years. All impurities, defects, inclusions and heterogeneities only add to their individuality, which explains, in the end, their attractiveness and desire to admire them. But many of them, as a rule, are the most beautiful, difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to buy: the price for the love of beauty is too high. In this regard, we can be grateful to the grown stones: flawless, they invariably follow the same goal - to be even better, even more beautiful.

In the modern jewelry industry, various methods for the synthesis of precious stones and the cultivation of jewelry crystals have been successfully developed. All of them are tied to the phase state and composition of the medium. Very generally, we can say that crystals are grown from:

• melts (pure substance)
• solutions
• gas environment

The synthesis process can proceed both as a result of the transformation of the initial solid phase, and by the formation of a solid phase from a liquid and a gaseous one. The most famous crystal synthesis methods are

• melt (methods of Verneuil, Czochralski, zone and skull melting)
• solution-melt (methods of flux, hydrothermal synthesis and synthesis of gem diamonds at high pressures)

Gemological Center Faculty of Geology of Moscow State University on its website gives a detailed description of the process and technologies for the synthesis of jewelry stones.

In general, we can say that the basis for obtaining synthetic jewelry crystals is the processes crystallization which, to one degree or another, we all studied at school in chemistry lessons. In fact, these are heterogeneous chemical reactions in which single crystals or their polycrystalline aggregates are formed.

The crystallization process consists of two key stages: first, the “center of the crystal” is born, then further growth occurs.

How does a gemstone crystal grow?

The crystal has a spatial lattice, which "overgrows" layer by layer with atoms of a supersaturated solution. The growth rate of the crystal is controlled by the medium temperature, pressure, and solution feed rate. If the growth rate is low, then the so-called "growth zoning" (similar to straight or curved lines) can form inside the crystal. In crystals with a saturated color, zoning can be color (that is, some faces will take on more impurities than others).

In addition, liquid and solid inclusions can “settle” on the crystal faces. The quality of the grown crystal often depends on the rate of its growth. Slow growth is more in line with nature's pace. With rapid stimulated growth, more inclusions remain on the faces, and the crystal may lose transparency.

Industrial Gem Gem Growth Methods

The era of industrial synthesis of precious and other jewelry stones was discovered in 1896 by a French scientist Auguste Verneuil. It was he who designed the first furnace with a burner based on oxygen and hydrogen, in which he received the first artificial ruby. Below in the table you can see a list of the most famous and used methods of growing stones. Stones of the same type, obtained by different methods, may have some differences.

It is important to note that in addition to growing single crystals, there are methods for synthesizing polycrystalline structures that make up such stones as turquoise and malachite. Their own, rather complex methods are also used to obtain a noble opal, which has a unique color effect (irisation). Most of these methods are trade secrets of the developers.

ALL STONES: CATALOG

JEWELERY STONES: DIRECTORY

SYNTHETIC JEWELERY STONES

Types of stones by origin (natural, imitation, synthesized, ennobled)

What determines the value of jewelry stones?

How to determine - synthetic jewelry stone or natural?

Imitation of natural stones and its methods

Refining precious stones

Zirconia, rhinestones, Swarovski crystals

Jewelry has always been loved and revered by both women and men. At all times, the presence of jewelry, their originality and value determined the position of a person in society, emphasized his status and wealth. This is explained by the high price of precious stones and jewelry, which only increases over the years. A grandson can sell great-grandmother's diamonds for fabulous money, provided that they are real, i.e. are of natural origin.

Most people in our country sincerely believe that precious (semi-precious) stones are set in all gold jewelry. This is the difference between real values ​​and costume jewelry, the destiny of which is to shine with faceted glass. However, everything is not so clear. Already two centuries ago, scientists outwitted mother nature and learned how to create an imitation of precious stones - their synthetic counterparts.

"Glass" or "stone"?

The process of growing stones in laboratory and production conditions is quite complicated and time-consuming, therefore, such stones cannot be called glass, but, alas, they also do not have the right to bear the name "precious stones".

The history of the creation of artificial gems

The desire to obtain gold and precious stones from improvised materials has been inherent in mankind for a long time. Dreams of gratuitous wealth are reflected in fairy tales and legends, in which a person suddenly got the opportunity to turn any objects around him into gold. And despite the fact that such stories never ended with anything good, the thirst to catch up with nature in opportunities and get alchemical stones in the laboratory did not leave the mind and heart of scientists.

Not always successful attempts are honest: the history of artificial stones began in the eighteenth century, when the Austrian Georg Friedrich Strass found a way to sell glass under the guise of noble diamonds. On the banks of the river Rhine, Strass discovered pieces of minerals that, in certain light, looked like diamonds. By processing, cutting and introducing lead salts into glass, artificial stones were obtained, very similar to real ones, which were sold by a skilled businessman as precious. In order for the “jewels” to shine more strongly, the thinnest metal spraying was applied to their surface. The great strategist not only was not punished for selling fake stones, but, on the contrary, he was granted the title of jeweler in the king's palace, and glass jewelry was named after him - rhinestones.

Today, the most famous in the world are rhinestones, bearing the name "Swarovski Crystals". It is very symbolic that they are made in the homeland of Strass - in Austria. The main materials for the manufacture of Swarovski Crystals are crystal, synthetic and precious stones of natural origin, so they have a fairly high cost.

As for stones, the first stone grown by man, like an exotic flower, was revealed to the public back in 1891. Prior to this, repeated attempts were made to grow stones. However, the results were of such microscopic dimensions that there was no need to talk about their use in industry (for example, in jewelry). The "Siamese" stones, which were obtained by alloying fragments of stones of natural origin, were not successful either.

The artificial ruby, obtained in the laboratory, reached ten carats, and was created by the Frenchman Auguste Verneuil. All the equipment for obtaining stones was invented by him and made it possible to obtain pure synthetic rubies in a few hours two to three times more than the received sample. At the same time, unlike natural stones, they did not have inclusions and defects, they were clean and transparent. A year later, the same scientist obtained the first corundum of synthetic origin. The raw material for it was purified aluminum oxide.

Ten years after the first success, the research was completed and the equipment for growing synthetic stones was successfully introduced into production. The Verneuil method turned out to be simple and reliable, it allowed growing rubies of the required size and prompted scientists to create other synthetic stones.

The twentieth century picked up the baton, and additional methods were discovered for growing stones “in test tubes”. Their assortment expanded, and such stones became very popular with jewelers, because at a lower cost it was possible to get a larger stone and purity unprecedented for natural gems.

In the Soviet Union in the middle of the last century, synthetic stones were in great demand, they can be found in many jewelry of that era: bright red, glowing rubies and blue transparent sapphires, grown using the method proposed by the French scientist. In addition to them, other synthetic stones are known: alexandrite, emerald, quartz and diamond. And the phianite, which is often found and loved by ladies, imitating a diamond, has no analogues in nature at all - it is 100% the merit of scientists.

How to distinguish a gem

An ordinary layman, neither at first glance, nor at a second, or even at a third glance, will be able to recognize which stone is set in the frame - synthetic or precious (precious, after all, stones of purely natural origin are called precious). In the EU countries and in the USA, the rights of buyers are very strictly observed, and the product tag must contain information about the origin of the stone. If the stone was inherited and there is no information about it, except for family legends, then you should contact a serious jewelry workshop or laboratory for a comprehensive analysis. With the help of special equipment, specialists will be able to answer your question. But even if the stone is not natural, but synthetic - do not rush to get upset, it still cannot be considered glass, suitable only for cheap jewelry. Synthetic stones make it possible to reduce the cost of products, they allow more economical use of minerals - diamonds, deposits of precious stones and, who knows, maybe after some fifty or a hundred years, our descendants will seriously attend to the preservation of nature, ecology, earth's interior, and synthetic stones will be at a huge price and in trend.

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Precious stones have always attracted people. But in our time, and before, most of these creations of nature are considered a rather expensive purchase.

The way out was found by scientists who managed to synthesize a gemstone that was not much different from its natural counterpart. The idea quickly gained popularity.

Currently, artificially grown stones are often used in jewelry.

The thing is that jewelers determine the value of a stone by a number of signs:

• stone color,
• light refraction,
• strength,
• size,
• the number of edges.

Entrepreneurial people have found a way to grow such stones at home. Some do business on this, taking advantage of the popularity of synthetic crystals.

Their sale will not be a fraud, because from the point of view of physics and chemistry, the properties of an artificial stone almost completely coincide with the real one.

Anyone can grow crystals, for this it is not necessary to have any specific knowledge. Just follow the instructions exactly.

With the right job setting, you can earn decent money on this.

Most Controversial Stone

Everyone knows that the most expensive gemstone is the diamond. It is cut and sold like a diamond. But actually there is a more interesting option.

The stone in question is called alexandrite.

It is a variety of the mineral chrysoberyl or beryllium aluminum oxide.

In nature, it is quite rare and usually weighs less than 1 carat.

Artificial stones sell for $300 per carat.

Such a high cost is associated with the complexity of production. It is grown by melt pulling.

The operation is quite difficult to perform, is performed at a high temperature and is not available at home.

But despite this, there is a huge number of artificial stones on the market, which are often difficult to distinguish from real ones.

What can you earn

It is most profitable to grow ruby ​​crystals.

The red stone does not lose popularity and, with proper implementation, will bring a good income to the manufacturer.

Rubies are not only used in jewelry, but also used in industry.

For production on a decent scale, special equipment is needed, which was named after its inventor the Verneuil apparatus.

It allows you to grow crystals right before your eyes.

For 3 hours, the weight of the stone can reach 20 carats.

With minimal costs for electricity and reagents, this brings enormous profits.

Of course, as in any business, it is necessary to make efforts and monitor the equipment, but in the future it is possible to grow not only rubies, but also emeralds, topazes and even a semblance of diamonds.

The resulting stones are easily processed and used for their intended purpose.

Only a professional can distinguish such stones from real ones. From the point of view of the layman, they will be like two drops of water similar to their natural counterparts.

From the point of view of the law, they will not be precious stones. Additional licenses are not required.

However, if implementation is carried out, it is worth taking care of opening a legal entity.

Non-standard earnings on "blooming" stones

An interesting feature: when people hear about artificially grown stones, they tend to consider them precious.

However, there are so-called "living stones".

This is the name of flowers of an interesting shape, striking in their beauty.

Lithops is such a plant.

Its natural habitat is the deserts of South Africa.

This flower belongs to the succulents and has very thick leaves that strongly resemble processed granite. Once a year, in spring, new leaves are born, associated with the death of old ones.

You can't call him tall. As a rule, the maximum growth of the plant is 10 cm. It blooms from September to November.

Planting a plant

Such flowers will be very interesting in the sale. The plant is quite unpretentious, so you can grow it at home.

Since reproduction occurs with the help of seeds, the main difficulty lies in planting.

Seeds should be put in water for several hours, after which they should be planted close to the surface of the earth. Landing must be covered with a film to make a mini-greenhouse.

Every day you need to spray with water and ventilate for 3 minutes.

It is desirable to maintain a temperature of less than 30 degrees during the day and more than 15 at night. You should also take care of good lighting and humidity.

Lithops do best in medium-sized pots.

Despite its small size, the plant has a very extensive root system, sharpened by the desert. It should fit well in the pot.

It is also advisable to plant 2-3 flowers in one container in order to better take root.

Pots should be placed in warm, well-lit areas. If possible, let them be on the south side of the housing.

Do not change location often - the plant is sensitive to movement.

Better not to touch it at all.

For lithops, rocky soil will be optimal. It fits him best in it. You can add coarse sand, small pieces of stones and humus.

Do not drastically change the environment. The plant loves a temperate climate and does not tolerate sharp fluctuations in temperature.

Also, do not fill the pot. You don't need to water too often. Care must be taken to ensure that water does not get between the leaves.

Watering is strictly prohibited during the dormant period, when all processes in the plant freeze.

"Stone" business: what to choose

What is better to choose, everyone decides for himself.

When choosing the cultivation of artificial crystals as a business idea, the first money will come faster, however, you need to choose the right point of sale and be constantly involved in production.

If the soul lies to the plants, then everything can be easier.

The main thing is to water from time to time, be careful and look for customers for grown flowers, then the income will not keep you waiting.

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Technology for the production of synthetic sapphires, rubies and corundum

Single crystals of lamellar sapphire (colorless corundum) are grown by melt methods, which makes it possible to obtain crystals weighing up to several kilograms. Synthetic sapphire single crystals are grown from aluminum oxide by stretching with molds of a given profile according to the Stepanov method. As a colorless structural material, lamellar sapphire is used in semiconductors and the electronics industry, thin-film hybrid and integrated microelectronics, lighting engineering, chemical equipment manufacturing, and other industries.

Plates of optically transparent and colorless corundum (sapphire) vary greatly in price depending on the presence of micro-defects invisible to the eye. The average size of the plates is 170x170 mm and the height is 30 mm. The complete formation of high-quality raw materials is carried out in about a week. A plate with microscopic defects invisible to the eye (visually absolutely perfect) is quite suitable for use in jewelry as a raw material, but may not be suitable for the needs of fine industrial optics, and therefore the price of raw materials will vary greatly. What is ideal for jewelry and realistically priced may not be enough for industrial needs.

At the beginning of growth, sapphire crystals are colorless, but then, as impurities accumulate, they become slightly pinkish. And if you put pinkish corundum for some time under an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, then the pinkness gradually turns into a wonderful wine brownishness. The color of sapphire is like wine topaz, only harder.

Sapphire single-crystal plates, according to the growing technology, resemble the process of freezing ordinary water and its modifications. If it is the "sparkling water" type, there will be a lot of bubbles visible to the eye. If it is of the "tap or open source" type, there will be many hidden and invisible bubbles that make the sapphire unusable under a microscope. The type "water with foreign impurities" will give impurities in the sapphire. The ideal option - the type "distilled water without gas and impurities, in a vacuum" - is used to make magnifying and reducing glasses for burning chips and processors of modern computers (Intel in the USA, reports at seminars and symposiums in 2006-2007 and later ). Very relevant.

Single crystals of synthetic corundum are a modification of aluminum oxide, in which a small part of the aluminum ions can be isomorphically replaced by ions of the iron group or copper ions. Growing synthetic single crystals of a wide range of colors (rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethysts, etc.) is carried out by the Verneuil method. Synthetic corundums are used in the jewelry, watch and instrument making industries. Corundum waste is used to produce high quality abrasive and refractory products. The Verneuil apparatus also makes it possible to grow synthetic spinels and the like.

Ruby and sapphire are minerals that, although they differ in appearance, have an identical crystal structure and properties, except for the presence of minor concentrations of impurity elements that give them their characteristic colors. Ruby and sapphire consist mainly of aluminum oxide Al2O3, the crystalline form of which mineralogists call corundum. Crystals grown by the Verneuil method known as Buli, apparently due to the fact that initially they had a rounded shape. This term, coined by Gaudin and used by Verneuil, has become common among crystal growers, despite the fact that crystals are now cylindrical.

Verneuil grew Bouli weighing 2.5-3 g (12-15 carats) within 2 hours. The boules were round in shape, and some of them had a diameter of 5-6 mm. Today, cylindrical boules with a diameter of 20 mm and a cylinder length of 50-70 mm and the so-called semi-boules (half of a cylinder cut lengthwise with a base of 10 x 20 mm) are grown. The volume of such a semi-boule 10 x 20 x 60-70 mm is 10-11 cubic meters. cm and weight, respectively, 40-45 grams. This raw material is not yet measured in carats (but it can be easily recalculated - the mass is 200-250 carats).

Monocrystalline transparent boules and rods of artificial corundum (synthetic rubies and sapphires) are obtained by melting and recrystallizing alumina (aluminum oxide) in an oxygen-hydrogen flame. Boules can be additionally colored: with impurities of Cr (chromium, up to 2%) ions - in red, V (vanadium) - in grayish green in daylight and purple in artificial light, Mn (manganese) - in yellowish pink, Ni ( nickel) - in yellow, Ti (titanium) - in pink-violet colors. When cutting synthetic corundums under different names (sapphire, ruby, topaz, alexandrite, amethyst), they are used in jewelry; red corundums - rubies - as reference stones for mechanical watches and other precision instruments, and rods - in optical generators (lasers). The density of synthetic corundums is 4 g/cc, the hardness is 9 for colored corundums and 9.25 for moissonite (the hardness of diamond is 10 on the Mohs scale). The crystal structure of corundum is composed of Al (aluminum) atoms surrounded by 6 O (oxygen) atoms, which form the densest hexagonal packing. Corundum is also characterized by high chemical resistance and high melting point (2020-2050 degrees C, refers to refractories).

Institute of Crystallography of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. A. V. Shubnikov developed methods for the synthesis of corundum, with the help of which corundum crystals of various shapes are obtained. This method makes it possible to grow leucosapphire crystals in the form of large plates with a certain predetermined crystallographic orientation. The molybdenum container filled with the starting material is placed in a vacuum furnace where it is heated to over 2000° C. The alumina is melted. The container with the melt slowly moves to areas with a lower temperature, and when the temperature drops to a certain value, the melt crystallizes. For directional crystallization, a seed crystal is introduced into the melt. The whole process is automated.

On an industrial scale, artificial corundum materials are obtained by melting bauxite in electric furnaces with a reducing agent (iron filings). They are also used as abrasives; using powder metallurgy methods, they are used to make cutters for machining metals at high temperatures. They are not suitable for the jewelry industry (for cutting as inserts).

It turns out that not only natural natural stones are being faked now. Since, after the collapse of the USSR, the prices for synthetic corundum raw materials became quite high, the prices for synthetic corundums, sapphires and rubies also turn out to be not cheap. The photo on the right is a typical example. counterfeits of synthetic single crystals of corundum(synthetic rubies and sapphires). Pretty bright colors and characteristic goltovka (shape resembling rounded pebbles). It seems to be similar to corundum, and it can be sold expensively, but it was not grown using the Vernel method.

If someone still has Soviet-cut synthetic rubies (stones made in the USSR) in jewelry, do not rush to get rid of them. You have an example of an excellent machine-cut stone and a rare example of valuable synthetic corundum. Now you can’t just buy them in a jewelry store. Today, the prices for cut synthetic corundums, rubies and sapphires for jewelry are many times higher than the prices for traditional colorless and colored cubic zircons (synthetic cubic zircons), although they are noticeably cheaper than the prices for natural raw materials and natural gemstones of the corundum group.

Technological features of corundum production

Auguste Verneuil method. The year of birth of industrial synthetic ruby ​​is 1905. Verneuil's technology consisted in the use of a vertical burner with the supply of alumina powder into the flame through an oxygen stream. The powder is shaken in the gas flow under the action of an electrically driven vibrator. The use of a gas-tight rubber gland allows the shock of the vibrator to be transmitted to the vessel containing the alumina powder without oxygen leakage. A ceramic pin is placed in the cold part of the flame, on which drops of liquid alumina are collected, which are formed during the melting of the powder that wakes up through the hot zone of the flame.

The flame is surrounded by a ceramic shield, which plays the role of an insulator and protects the growing Bulya from drafts. This muffle is equipped with a viewing window, which was sealed with mica in the original Verneuil apparatus. Excessive heating of the upper part of the apparatus due to the heat flow from the hot zone is prevented by the use of water cooling.

In the initial stage of Bouli's growth, the powder, falling on the pin, hardens and forms a cone of a material of relatively low density. Subsequently, the cone is moved to the hot zone of the flame, where its top begins to melt. At this point, several crystals are formed, but one of them is oriented in the direction of the highest growth rate. It inhibits the growth of other crystals and serves as a seed for the developing Bulli. The skill of the operator is extremely important in the early stage of growth, as the flame temperature or powder feed rate may need to be adjusted during crystal selection.

After the predominant growth of one crystal begins in the central part, in order to increase the diameter of the Bouley, increase the feed powder feed rate and gradually increase the flame temperature by adjusting the oxygen flow rate. The upper surface of the Boule becomes rounded, and fresh portions of alumina are fed onto it in the form of falling melt drops. Next, the stand with the stem is lowered at a speed corresponding to the growth rate of the Bouley. The most important condition for the growth of high quality crystals is the uniform supply of the powder, so much effort is spent on preparing the feed material so that it has good flowability.

If the powder is too coarse, the incorporation of large cold particles can cause a thin molten layer to solidify. Then many small crystals are nucleated and Bulya loses the structure of a single crystal. The use of too fine powder is associated with the danger of evaporation of alumina in the flame. The optimal particle sizes lie in the submicron range (less than thousandths of a millimeter - 20 microns). The particles must have the correct shape, since only in this case they react equally to the impact of the vibrator (and pour evenly). Verneuil obtained alumina from ammonium alum containing about 2.5% chromium alum impurities (classic red boules were obtained). A powder of this composition was heated until the decomposition of alum and the formation of oxides, which were crushed and sieved through a wire sieve to select particles of the required size.

Czochralski method(melt pulling method) is as follows: the melt of the substance from which the stones are supposed to crystallize is placed in a refractory crucible made of refractory metal - platinum, rhodium, iridium, molybdenum or tungsten - and heated in a high-frequency inductor above the melting point. A seed from the material of the future crystal is lowered into the melt on the exhaust shaft, and synthetic material is grown on it to the desired thickness. The shaft with the seed is gradually lifted up at a speed of 1-50 mm/h with simultaneous rotation at a frequency of 30-150 rpm -1 . Rotate the shaft to equalize the temperature of the melt and ensure even distribution of impurities. Crystal diameter up to 50 mm, length up to 1 m. Artificial garnet, as well as corundum, spinel, chrysoberyl, lithium niobate, etc. are grown using the Czochralski method.

A large number of scientific papers have appeared on the cultivation of corundum and spinel flame melting method(zone melting method). In the process of growing crystals by this method, a small area - a zone - is melted using a heating mechanism, and then the heater moves along the sample, in connection with which a single crystal grows sequentially. There are two variants of this method: in the method of horizontal directional crystallization, a long narrow boat is used (the resulting crystals are in the form of plates measuring 220x100x20 mm or more, depending on the size of the boat), in the vertical version - a floating zone - a sintered rod (boule) is used, fixed in the upper and lower parts.

The main attention is paid to the relationship between defects in crystals and the conditions under which Boole is grown. The main imperfection of this method of growing crystals is the presence of a stepwise temperature gradient between the hot region of the flame, where the molten top of the Bouley is located, and the colder lower part. A sharp change in temperature along the Bouley axis creates strong stresses in the crystal and, when removed from the furnace, the Bouleys often crack (along the cylinder) with the formation of two semi-cylindrical fragments (half-boules). For the needs of the jewelry industry, such semi-boules are quite suitable for cutting.

Technological features of the production of star sapphires (asterixes)

In 1947, the Linde branch of the Union Carbide Corporation in East Chicago began producing star sapphires and rubies using the Verneuil method. In 1949 this method was patented. Starstones are named for their unusual appearance when viewed along a crystal along its major axis. Six brilliant stripes radiate from the center of the crystal so that an impressive picture is created, corresponding to the symbolic image of a star or asterisk. Very bright star stones are obtained, which are absent in nature.

Such a phenomenon in corundum is caused by the presence of thin needles of rutile - aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5), which are elongated into strips located in accordance with the symmetry of the crystal structure at an angle of 60 o relative to each other. This is achieved by adding small amounts of rutile to the alumina powder. During the formation of the boule, rutile dissolves in the molten layer of alumina, but upon cooling after crystallization of the boule, it precipitates in the form of needles, but mainly in the form of Al2TiO5, which is formed as a result of the interaction of rutile and alumina. In accordance with the Linde patent, the best results are achieved by adding 0.1% to 0.3% rutile to the powder and then annealing the boule at 1100-1500 o C for several hours to isolate Al2TiO5 needles. Starstones are usually made in the form of fairly domed cabochons, in which case they are most spectacular.

The main difficulty in the manufacture of star stones is to achieve a uniform distribution of Al2TiO5 needles so that the star occupies the entire width of the stone. Linde experts have found that the best results are achieved by varying the oxygen flow rate, which results in periodic temperature variations. The most convenient way to do this is with a valve that partially shuts off the oxygen supply. This procedure was found to result in a periodic change in the distribution of needles. If, at a low flow rate of oxygen, the needles are distributed over the entire width of the boule, then a high flow rate favors their crystallization only in the peripheral part.

The most spectacular star pattern appears when the thickness of alternating layers is 1 mm. This procedure demonstrates one of the main advantages of artificial gemstones over natural gemstones: the crystal grower controls the conditions for making the material and can change them to achieve the best result. Lovers of natural crystals admit the possibility of certain treatments of stones to improve their appearance, such as heating zircon, but they do not have the ability to control the conditions under which the crystals originally grew. Only in rare cases can a natural star stone compete with its man-made counterpart in purely visual perception.

Linde makes starstones in another way, when a pre-cut cabochon from a stone synthesized without additives of rutile is immersed in a rutile melt in order to form a very thin layer of needles. Only after that is the final polishing done. Such stones differ from ordinary star stones in greater transparency, but are not sold on a large scale.

In addition to ruby ​​and sapphire, Linde's star stones are available in varieties of purple, green, pink, yellow and brown, as well as smoky blue and smoky red. Since the original patent has now expired, a number of other suppliers have emerged, for example in Germany. A colorless star sapphire has been reported. Such competition caused the price of synthetic star corundums to fall. The Linde firm has ceased their production and sold their equipment, although stones from the Alvin Company of New Jersey are still available for sale. Apparently, at present, the main supplier of star stones, which are still very popular in the USA, is the Jeva company.

Growing ruby ​​crystals at home is available to everyone. The work does not require an equipped laboratory, the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of mineralogy, the purchase of special chemicals. Everything you need can be found in the kitchen.

Home experimentation

It is advised to start growing rubies with small volumes. First, experience is gained, the whole process is understood, and then direct systematic work begins. Synthetic creation of your own hands will not be inferior in beauty and attractiveness to natural minerals. Stones are in demand among jewelers, so a successful experience can bring additional income if you find a market.

There are several ways to grow. It is advised to try all the options, then stop at the one you like.

Artificial precious rocks created by man do not differ from natural ones in terms of chemical content and physical properties. The advantage of home technologies is that they allow you to create perfectly pure breeds. In nature, this happens very rarely. The jewelry qualities of laboratory specimens are quite good. Another plus of the mineral is the cost. The stones are cheaper than their originals, which originate in deep mines.

organic salts

It is easy to grow a ruby ​​crystal from various salts:

• copper sulphate;
• potassium alum;
• regular salt.

The longest salt-based process, the most beautiful samples are obtained from vitriol. The production of ruby ​​crystals is based on the following steps:

1. Tank preparation. It should hold salt and a saturated water-salt solution. Take hot water. The process is gradual. Dilute two tablespoons with water, mix thoroughly. Then salt is added and mixed. it is necessary to shower until the salt ceases to dissolve. To keep the proportions, they take a hint: a table of the solubility of different salts in 100 ml of water, their relationship with the temperature of the liquid.
2. Solution filtration. The solution must be clean. Dirt impurities will spoil the structure of the stone. It will show defects. The solution remains for 24 hours. During this period, crystals form at the bottom of the container. They will become the basis of the ruby.
3. The growth of an artificial mineral. A fishing line is tied to the stone formed at the bottom of the glass. It is wound on a pencil or wooden stick. The device is installed on the tank. The crystal is in solution, suspended. Water tends to evaporate, a saturated saline solution releases excess, which is fixed on the resulting sample.
4. Adding a salt solution. Water always needs a certain amount, if it becomes scarce, the crystal will stop growing. At normal room temperature, water is added once every 2 weeks.

To get rubies at home, you will have to wait about 3 months. Then the stone is freed from saline solution, dried with a soft cloth. The sample is covered with a colorless nail polish in several layers.

Council of experienced crystal makers. The salt solution must be at the same temperature as the water in the container. The crystal grows at a slightly lower temperature, but high rises in solutions spoil and stop growth.

Apparatus for work at home

To create rubies at home, you will need an apparatus named after its creator, Verneuil. The inventor's technique allows growing a ruby ​​weighing 30 carats in 3 hours. Technology has made it possible to create precious material in the right amount. Industrial facilities began to actively implement the development of Verneuil. Time has made its own adjustments, and today such a device is easily assembled at home. Components of the device:

• cathetometer;
• shaking mechanism;
• bunker;
• burner;
• muffle;
• growing crystal;
• crystal holder;
• crystal lowering mechanism.

The device is used to grow not only rubies. Often blue topaz, emeralds and stones with a translucent transparent structure are created in the device.

Home production process:

1. The powder is poured into the hopper through the funnel. Powder composition - Al2O3, additional component - Cr2O3.
2. With the help of a burner, a flame is supplied to the bottom of the bunker.
3. The powder starts to melt.
4. The layers of molten powder are a growing ruby ​​crystal.

Through the lowering mechanism, the artificial mineral moves down. In the device you can get different shades. The rate of crystal formation is higher than in the tank. It will take only 3 hours, and you can admire the ruby. For one sample, the following volumes of components are needed:

• 6 g Al2O3;
• 0.2 g Cr2O.

Raw crystalline formations are extraordinary in shape. They are originally similar to natural, but at the same time always unique.

Working with the device at first glance is complex and painstaking. In fact, a device invented by a French inventor more than 100 years ago will not create any special problems. It is assembled from parts that practical people have on the farm. Making an apparatus and purchasing powder are the main stages of preparation.

Economic calculations

Home technology is always cheaper. You can calculate the cost of all components, costs, and determine the approximate cost of the samples received. What is taken into account ruby:

• the cost of parts of the device;
• electricity costs;
• price for the purchase of powders for the base of the crystal.

Even approximate calculations will show the benefit. The cost of all components will not be 500 rubles. For such money it is difficult to buy a ruby ​​jewelry of a beautiful appearance and excellent quality. The process should not frighten home experimenters with legality. Natural minerals are regulated by the state, synthetic minerals are not subject to documents. If a decision is made to open a small production, it should be registered in the prescribed manner. The soul will be in place, the work will bring only satisfaction.

A gemstone created by yourself will become a pride. The craftsman will gradually learn to change the shades of rubies. The next step will be creative work on the received samples, the transformation of their interior design items and original decorations.

In terms of their physical properties and chemical composition, synthetic gemstones practically do not differ from natural ones. Not all products sold in jewelry stores contain natural stones. And this is quite normal. Consider how to open your own ruby ​​crystal growing business at home.

• Auguste Verneuil method
• Determining the competition in this area
• Register home production
• promotional activities
• A detailed method for growing crystals at home!

The main problem is that most natural stones do not have all the necessary characteristics to show off in jewelry. Stones obtained in the factory or laboratory have almost the same characteristics. In addition, the synthetic production of jewelry is cheaper than the extraction of natural in deep and life-threatening mines.

Growing with limited salts

Potassium alum is suitable for this method. At home, it is best to grow crystals from copper sulfate. They do not grow well from ordinary salt. But copper sulfate is easy to buy, and very beautiful blue artificial gems grow from it.

1. We prepare the container. We will make a saturated salt solution in it. Pour a few tablespoons of salt, pour it with water and stir. Add salt until it no longer dissolves. Use hot water so as not to make a mistake with the proportions. There are solubility curves for different salts. They show how many grams can be dissolved in 100 ml of water at a certain temperature.

Solubility Curves

2. Filter the solution. This step is very important, especially if you are buying blue vitriol from a gardening store. If the solution is dirty, the crystal will grow with defects. We leave the solution for a day so that excess crystals fall out of it. They settle at the bottom of the glass and serve as a seed for us (the main elements on which new ones will grow).

3. We tie the crystal to the fishing line. We wrap the fishing line on a pencil and hang this device on a glass with a saturated solution. Over time, the water evaporates, the saturation of the solution increases. An excess of a substance that cannot dissolve settles on our product.

4. Once every two weeks, add a saturated solution to the glass. Why do it? Over time, the water evaporates and at some point in the growth it will not be enough and the growth will stop.

Important! The solution added should be the same temperature as the solution where the crystal grows. If it is the highest, we can ruin everything.

5. After three months, we take out the crystal and dry it with a towel.

6. We cover the product with 1-2 layers of colorless nail polish. This is necessary so that it does not dry out and does not lose its luster. After drying, the product can be taken by hand.

Here are some wonderful rubies you can grow at home!

Auguste Verneuil method

To obtain a ruby ​​in the laboratory, an apparatus invented by the French scientist Auguste Verneuil more than 100 years ago is used. On the Internet you can find information on the method of growing ruby ​​and more simplified equipment of a French scientist, which can be used at home. According to the method of Auguste Verneuil, in 2-3 hours you can grow a ruby ​​​​crystal, the mass of which is 20-30 carats. It should be noted that this method also applies to the production of topaz of various shades (yellow, blue, white and transparent).

Drawing of the Verneuil apparatus

To get a product weighing 30 carats, you need 3 kWh of electricity and 3 hours of time. In monetary terms, this will be less than $ 1. For the production of one crystal, 0.2 g of chromium oxide and 6 g of aluminum oxide powder are needed, the cost of which will be no more than $ 0.50.

You don't need to be an economist to understand that if even an uncut crystal is sold to a jeweler, the profit will be very solid. Having pleased your wife with home-grown topazes and rubies, you will receive incomparable psychological "dividends".

Download a detailed description of the Verneuil method