Today's technologies are so developed that virtually limitless possibilities are revealed to a person. Nature is generous, but its reserves are not unlimited. The beauty and properties of natural stones are sometimes amazing, but not every connoisseur of beauty can afford their cost. Therefore, laboratory-grown stones are in demand and are widely popular.
Hydrothermal emerald is a prime example. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the characteristics and features of these stones, and there are plenty of prejudices based on misconceptions. Because of this, many consider such gems to be nothing more than a cheap fake, unworthy of attention. In fact, lab-grown emeralds are well worth our attention.
Hydrothermal emerald: what is it and why is it needed?
It would seem, why do you need to grow stones in laboratories, if there are many deposits around the world? But there are several reasons for this phenomenon. The main one is related to the characteristics of natural stone - in nature it is extremelyrare emeralds of large size. No wonder the prices for large gems are skyrocketing. Even 5-carat crystals can cost more than diamonds of the same size - of course, subject to good color and transparency. But in the laboratory, you can grow almost any crystal.
Even small stones the size of a sugar crystal end up in the skillful hands of jewelers. They are processed, polished or cut, decorated with jewelry, placed around the main stones. But very fine dust is unsuitable for business. It is she who ends up in the laboratory, where she turns into crystals of hydrothermal emerald. Often, jewelers use low-quality natural stones. They are freed from foreign inclusions and impurities, crushed, after which they are quite suitable for growing beautiful and high-quality crystals. This is a wonderful example of the rational use of resources, a careful attitude to the riches donated by nature - after all, what is used is what could simply be thrown away. But instead, even out of seemingly unnecessary dust, a person has learned to create beauty.
History of artificial emerald cultivation
The technology is relatively new, a little over a century old. Synthetic hydrothermal emerald dates back to 1888. Scientists Perret and Hautefel were not the first to try to grow this stone in the laboratory, but it was their successful experiment that laid the foundation for a new technology that is still used today.
In 1911, scientists from Germany got down to business, who managed to make significant progress. But the government of the country imposed a ban on the publication of any research results, all developments were kept secret until 1960. It is worth noting that the atmosphere of strict secrecy, shrouding the achievements of German mineralogists, gave the world a reason to think about the excellent results of their work. In fact, the appearance of the hydrothermal stones produced in Germany, to put it mildly, left much to be desired. They bore little resemblance to the original.
Later, many other scientists were engaged in research and practical experiments. Today we can safely say that the technology for the production of hydrothermal emeralds has been perfected.
Process Features
Probably everyone who studied physics at school can easily guess from the name that the technology is based on processes related to water and temperature. It really is. Something like this happens.
Powder obtained from the cutting of natural stones, as well as from low-quality emeralds, is immersed in an autoclave. In this vessel, they begin to act on it with the help of chemical components and high temperature. The powder dissolves in the strongest solvent - water.
Then the vessel is placed in a special low temperature zone where the crystallization process takes place. Emeralds settle on the seed substrate. Understanding what a hydrothermal emerald means, we can reason aboutas far as it can be similar to the original. After all, the process of natural formation of this gem follows the same pattern, but takes millions of years. In the laboratory, the stone is formed in only about a month.
Wide possibilities: shape, size, quality
Scientists are able to grow a hydrothermal emerald with almost any characteristics.
For example, emeralds with absolute transparency are almost never found in nature. They almost always contain inclusions. The absence of inclusions in a crystal, especially in a large one, is one of the main signs of a fake. That is, we are not even talking about hydrothermal emerald, but about a piece of glass, plastic or other synthetic material that has nothing to do with emerald. But laboratory-grown crystals have small inclusions, like natural stones. This process is difficult to control, it happens by itself, because everything goes according to the same pattern as in natural deposits.
As for the form, the possibilities of scientists are quite wide. They can get almost any stone that, when cut, will turn into a beautiful specimen. In addition, quite large stones can be grown in the laboratory, but it is worth mentioning that this rarely happens. A large emerald is alarming, suggestive of a fake. Therefore, even hydrothermal gems are usually small.
GT emerald properties
Laboratory-grown stones have the same chemical formula as natural ones. They have a high density, they are not easy toprocess. Hydrothermal emerald visually almost does not differ from natural, but still has some features:
- GT emeralds are always highly transparent;
- contain inclusions in the form of tubes;
- may have scattered brownish inclusions;
- sometimes include air bubbles;
- may be blue-green.
Of course, these signs are very conditional. In many ways, the properties of the stone depend on the characteristics of the technology and raw materials.
Are there any similarities?
Hydrothermal emerald is quite similar to natural stone. So much so that sometimes even a professional jeweler finds it difficult to determine the origin of a gem.
But with all the obvious similar qualities, there are still differences. This is something that cannot be explained and described with the help of formulas, as if we are talking about a force absorbed over millions of years of formation. Natural emerald plays with facets, shimmering in the sun, hydrothermal crystals can not compete with them at all.
Jewellery use
This stone is often processed and put into a decent setting even by the most reputable jewelry houses. The use of hydrothermal emerald is not bad manners at all, of course, provided that the price is adequate and there are no falsifications.
When creating jewelry, jewelers are guided by certain rules. GT emeralds need rational additions. For example, earrings with hydrothermal emerald adorncubic zirkonia, rock crystals, other hydrothermal gems. Of the metals most often used are ordinary yellow gold and silver.
Prices
Another feature that distinguishes the hydrothermal emerald is the price. Of course, it is much lower than a stone of the same size, nurtured by nature.
The average price for a cut stone is 30-50 dollars per carat. In some cases, the cost may be higher - for example, for stones with impeccable clarity and excellent cut.
Purchasing Precautions
If you are looking for a ring with a hydrothermal emerald, knowing in advance the features of the origin of the stone, then the risks of running into a fake are small. Remember that this stone is many times stronger than glass, it cannot be scratched so easily. In addition, the GT emerald has a deep color, often with a hint of blue.
Another thing is if an unscrupulous jeweler passes off an artificially grown stone as natural. In this case, the risk of losing money is huge. Not every jeweler can easily distinguish a fake. Therefore, when buying jewelry with natural emeralds, you should not trust random sellers, too low prices, jewelry without documents. Feel free to ask the seller for quality certificates, examination results.
Focus not only on the appearance of products, but also on your own feelings. Experts assure that if the stone is yours, then you will definitely feel it right away.
