Emerald is a precious stone whose value has been undeniable for many centuries. The beautiful green mineral, which has the poetic name emerald, is becoming increasingly rare in the natural environment. Its rarity was one of the reasons that people thought about the possibility of obtaining it artificially. The hydrothermal method of growing emeralds in laboratory conditions is a real process that can be reproduced in special laboratory conditions. Of course, not all fans of precious stones are familiar with the concept of hydrothermal emerald - what it is becomes clear only after becoming familiar with the principles of its manufacture.
When did they start creating artificial hydrothermal emeralds?
The question of why it was necessary to grow artificial gems worried many minds several decades ago, because nature has given humanity quite a few deposits of these wonderful stones. The thing is that this type of beryl of a fairly large size is extremely rare in natural conditions, and if one is found, it will cost an enormous amount and only very rich people can afford to buy it.
In laboratories, scientists grow artificial emeralds of any size; in terms of their external characteristics, they are no worse than those created by nature. Hydrothermal emerald is a complete analogue of a real stone, unlike fakes made of glass, rhinestones and similar materials. It has purity, hardness, brilliance, transparency and structure, all those properties that are almost identical to a real gem.
Hydrothermal or synthetic stone was first obtained in 1888, then German scientists began researching and creating it in 1911. Until 1960, all developments related to the creation of synthetic emeralds were kept secret, but today such minerals are grown in many laboratories around the world and the technologies for their production can safely be called perfect.
Interesting history facts
Emeralds were known and very popular during the reign of the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Sesostris the Third. Stones of 1 carat, 5 and much larger were mined in the digs. They were specially mined by order of the great ruler Cleopatra, who was well versed in precious stones and valued them for their beauty, radiance, energy, and unique qualities. They say that the queen owned many mines where they mined crystals.
There are many interesting stories and legends about this amazing natural fossil.
Ancient manuscripts say that the emerald was lost by Satan during the period of his overthrow. It is said that when the stone fell from his crown, it turned into a beautiful cup, which the Queen of Sheba presented as a gift to Solomon. Also, if you believe the manuscripts, then Christ himself held this cup in his hands at the last Holy Supper. After his death, Joseph of Arimathea took a cup and collected in it all the drops of blood at the foot of the cross on which Christ was crucified. So he became the head and founder of the Order of the Holy Grail.
Also, some claim that one Indian tribe owned a large emerald, which was called the Goddess Emerald. It was customary to bring this crystal out for public viewing and worship by the inhabitants of the tribe only during celebrations; stones of smaller sizes were presented to it as a gift. But during the battle with the Spaniards, when they captured the tribe, the large crystal was lost forever. The invaders only got small emeralds.
Interesting: Which is better - sapphire or topaz?
How does the process of creating artificial stone work?
Answering the question, what is a nano emerald? We can say that it is a synthesized analogue of a real gem. Hydrothermal stone is not an imitation of natural stone, it is a complete repetition of it, but less valuable, although no less beautiful.
Synthetic gems are created as follows:
- The powder remaining after cutting a real nugget is placed in an autoclave along with other components (chromium, beryllium oxide, silica and aluminum oxide).
- Next, chemical reactions occur in the vessel under high pressure and temperatures.
- The autoclave is then placed in a special zone where the crystallization process takes place.
A finished hydrothermal emerald can be obtained approximately a month after the start of its creation; nature has been working on this for many thousands, or even millions, of years.
Despite the fact that today there is a fairly widespread belief that a gem can be created at home, you just need to purchase an autoclave and be able to set it up, this is a misconception, since the process of growing a nanostone is quite complicated and requires control and supervision of competent specialists.
How to recognize a synthetic emerald
Finding the differences between a hydrothermal emerald and a natural one is not always possible even for experienced jewelry craftsmen. In terms of their physical and chemical characteristics, artificially grown and natural minerals are very similar, since the process of their origin is still identical.
Nano emeralds have the following distinctive features:
- Tubular inclusions can be seen in them;
- The gem contains brownish impurities.
Real nuggets are rarely of ideal shape, without cracks and all kinds of inclusions, and absolutely transparent. Artificial gems are distinguished by a rich, deep shade of green, they are absolutely transparent, and there are air bubbles in their structure.
We should also not forget that today scammers know how to counterfeit not only real minerals, but also artificially grown ones. For example, they often try to pass off ordinary glass as nanocrystals, skillfully disguised as a synthetic emerald. It is quite easy to recognize a fake, since, for example, glass passed off as a hydrothermal emerald can be easily damaged by a sharp object, while a stone of any origin is much stronger.
Varieties
Hydrothermal emerald has a green tint. Provides it with the following parameters:
- chromium oxide;
- iron;
- vanadium.
The presence of these substances in the stone in different proportions allows the gem to be painted in different shades:
- warm yellowish-green tone;
- cold sea green color;
- blue-green color.
Hydrothermal emerald may contain brownish impurities, air bubbles, and tubular inclusions. However, artificial specimens are also found to be as transparent as possible. Depending on the given color, manufacturers can add certain additives when synthesizing artificial emerald.
Benefits of nano-emeralds
Despite all the value and significance of natural nuggets, they are very difficult to mine; sometimes, before a group of researchers gets what they need, entire piles of rocks have to be processed. With hydrothermal minerals everything is much simpler. Also, in addition to the fact that it is much easier to obtain such a stone, it has the following advantages:
- An artificially grown gem is not afraid of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, but a real stone loses its natural color under its influence.
- Synthetic stone is more resistant to mechanical stress.
- Affordable price. A natural mineral, even of the lowest quality and with visible defects, will cost much more than the ideal form of a rich green nanocrystal.
It is worth noting that in Germany, artificially created emeralds are called “cultured”, which is similar to cultured pearls, the origin of which also involves humans.
Production technology
Among the most popular gemstones, emerald is highly valued. A green crystal with a similar structure can be recreated using hydrothermal growth. The very name of the technology contains a hint that the process uses exposure to high temperatures.
It is worth noting that it is unlikely to be possible to repeat this method in artisanal conditions. Achieving a result truly similar to a natural nugget is possible only with strict adherence to consistency and timing.
The very idea of growing minerals in laboratory conditions is determined, first of all, by the prices for natural gems and their sizes. Most precious crystals are mined in small sizes.
But even if large gems are available, purchasing them is problematic due to the very high price. Laboratory specimens provide an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of nature’s gifts. Moreover, the raw materials used are powder from cutting natural stones and low-quality but natural emerald.
The production process consists of the following stages:
- grinding raw materials into powder;
- immersing the powder in an autoclave;
- exposure of the contents of the vessel to chemicals and high temperature;
- dissolving the contents in water;
- placing the vessel in a low temperature zone for crystallization.
Jewelry with hydrothermal stones
Today, jewelers produce a large number of different jewelry with nano emeralds, the stone goes well with frames made of gold and silver, and now products made of white gold with synthetic gems, which look impressive and expensive, are considered very stylish and fashionable.
Rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings with hydrothermal emerald, and other jewelry may well be suitable for everyday wear, since the synthetic gem is more durable than the real one and is more resistant to ultraviolet rays. But still, a product with an artificially grown mineral should be protected, since it reacts poorly to the influence of various chemicals, for example, household appliance cleaners, some types of soap, etc.
Jewelry with a real nugget should be reserved for special occasions, as, despite its natural beauty, it is quite fragile and may not withstand everyday use.
Does a synthetic gem have magical properties?
Many people believe in the magical power of natural emerald, believing that it can protect against the evil eye, damage, cure many diseases, give women beauty and youth, and maintain well-being in the family.
Synthetic stones are created artificially, which means, as some people think, they are not endowed with magical powers, but experts say the opposite. It is believed that the mineral obtained by any method has special energy and strength. Today, nano emerald is a symbol of impeccability, purity and success.
There is an opinion that the gem is especially useful as a decoration for those who have problems with the cardiovascular and nervous systems. The mineral is ideal for nervous and hot-tempered people, having a beneficial effect on their mental state.
A pendant or brooch with a nano emerald will ease the condition of an asthmatic, and in order to cleanse the house of negative energy, one should place the crystal in each room for at least 10-12 hours, it is believed that after this procedure all adversity will leave its residents. The most powerful energy, as psychics say, is possessed by minerals of a rich, deep dark green color.
How does hydrothermal emerald affect different zodiac signs?
Having learned about the names of artificially grown stones, it is worth talking about the effect that wearing jewelry with them has on different zodiac signs. So, what does the gem promise to the following zodiac signs:
- Aries – success in business relationships;
- Taurus – energy;
- For Gemini - protection from the evil eye and damage;
- Cancer - to find peace of mind and win over hypertension;
- For Leos - a surge of strength;
- Libra and Virgo - to find peace of mind and overcome thyroid diseases;
- Scorpios - to find internal balance, pacify their stormy temper;
- Capricorns and Sagittarius – find inner peace and get rid of mental anxieties;
- For Pisces and Aquarius, the mineral guarantees success and happiness.
In astrology, it is believed that jewelry with these stones is best suited for such zodiac signs as Libra, Aries, Capricorn and Virgo.
Who is it suitable for?
An emerald of 1 carat or more is popular to give to women immediately after the birth of a child. This is a great gift, since the stone will protect the mother and newborn from damage, envy and anger of others, and will support them in difficult times. Gems that are considered family heirlooms are very powerful and are passed down from generation to generation. They are able to absorb the wisdom of all generations and give it to the next heir.
If a person’s work is related to navigation, then it is better for him to choose the brightest emerald as a talisman. The crystal will protect him on a sea voyage, make his mind clear and insightful, reward him with a sense of dignity, generosity, spiritual harmony, and sharpen his intuition.
The gem is able to breathe fresh notes of fantasy into creative minds. He will guide young people on the path of truth and protect them from debauchery and vices. Deceitful and fickle people who live by deception should be wary of emerald. For such people, the positive energy of a stone can turn into a big disaster, because it has not only noble qualities, but also a dark side that opens up when a person is insincere and deceitful.
The beautiful gem is considered the patron saint of people born under the signs of Taurus, Gemini and Cancer. This is not to say that it is unfavorable to other signs of the zodiac, it is just that the crystal does not fully open up to these people. Usually he is neutral towards them or simply does not want to show friendliness.
When deciding to buy an emerald, you must take into account that its price depends on the quality of the cut and the shape of the crystal. In addition, stones are large, large, medium and small. The most in demand are medium-sized stones, which weigh up to 1 carat, and small ones, weighing less than 0.49 carats. The cost of such precious minerals depends on the color saturation and quality. Choosing a stone is not at all difficult, because even an artificial emerald will become a unique decoration for lovely and charming ladies.
Approximate cost of jewelry with synthetic emeralds
Gems obtained by hydrothermal methods are not considered counterfeits; they can only be considered fraud if the seller sells them at the price of real minerals. As a rule, the tag of a piece of jewelry must indicate the origin of its stone insert, and there is also a special certificate with all the characteristics of the product, which you can ask to see.
Synthetic minerals look quite attractive when mounted in precious metals; their approximate cost starts from five dollars for a fairly large specimen. The full price of the jewelry will depend on the metal frame in which the nano emerald is inserted. The most inexpensive jewelry with artificial minerals can be purchased from silver. Rings, brooches, earrings, pendants, bracelets made of gold with nano emeralds will cost more.
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Team LyubiKamni
Application
Hydrothermal emerald is used to make jewelry. Innovative technology makes it possible to grow stones of different sizes and shades. But minerals that are too large should still alert you, because in nature they are considered very rare.
Products framed in a decent frame look elegant. In addition to being combined with precious metals, emeralds are complemented with rock crystal, cubic zirconia, sapphires and other hydrothermal gems.
Green stone looks equally interesting on earrings, rings, and bracelets. But what fascinates the most are the necklaces and brooches.
