Hydrothermal emerald: description, characteristics and properties
Today's technologies are so developed thatIn fact, there are virtually limitless possibilities before a person. Nature is generous, but its reserves are not unlimited. The beauty and properties of natural stones are sometimes amazing, but their cost is not affordable for every connoisseur of beauty. Therefore, grown in the laboratory, stones are in demand and widely popular.
Hydrothermal emerald - a vivid example of this. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the characteristics and characteristics of these stones, and prejudices based on delusions are abundant. Because of this, many consider such gems as nothing more than a cheap counterfeit, unworthy of attention. In fact, the emeralds grown in laboratories are quite worthy of our attention.
Hydrothermal emerald: what is it and why is it needed?
It would seem, for what it is necessary to grow stones inlaboratories, if there are many deposits around the world? But there are several reasons for this phenomenon. The main one is related to the peculiarities of natural stone - in the nature extremely rare there are emeralds of large size. It's no wonder that the prices of large gems are sky-high. Even crystals of 5 carats can cost more than diamonds of the same size - of course, provided good color and transparency. But in the laboratory you can grow almost any crystal.
Even small stones the size of a crystalline sugarfall into the skilful hands of jewelers. They are processed, polished or grinded, decorated with jewelery, placed around the main stones. But very small dust is unsuitable for business. She gets into the laboratory, where she turns into crystals of hydrothermal emerald. Often jewelers use natural stones of poor quality. They get rid of foreign inclusions and impurities, they are 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, careful attitude to the wealth given to nature - after all, it is something that could simply be thrown away. But instead of this, even from an unnecessary, seemingly dusty person, he learned to create the beautiful.
History of artificial cultivation of emeralds
Technology is relatively new, a little morecentury. Emerald synthetic hydrothermal has its history since 1888. The scientists Perre and Otfel 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 used today.
In 1911 scientists from Germany,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 should be noted that the atmosphere of strict secrecy, enveloping the achievements of German minerologists, gave the world a reason to think about the excellent results of their labors. In fact, the appearance of the hydrothermal stones produced in Germany, to put it mildly, left much to be desired. They looked little like the original.
Later, many other scientistsresearch and practical experiments. Today we can safely say that the technology of hydrothermal emeralds production is perfected.
Process Features
Probably, everyone who studied physics at school, withoutLabor guess by name that the technology is based on processes associated with water and temperature. This is indeed so. The following is happening.
Powder obtained from the cutting of naturalstones, and also from emeralds of poor quality, is immersed in an autoclave. In this vessel, it is affected by chemical components and high temperature. The powder dissolves in the strongest solvent - in water.
The vessel is then placed in a special zone with a lowtemperature, where the crystallization process takes place. Emeralds settle on a substrate-primer. Understanding what the hydrothermal emerald means, we can talk about how much it can look like the original. After all, the process of the natural formation of this gem proceeds according to the same scheme, but takes millions of years. Laboratory is the same stone formed about a month.
Extensive features: shape, size, quality
Scientists are able to grow a hydrothermal emerald with almost any characteristics.
For example, in nature,there are emeralds with absolute transparency. Almost always they contain inclusions. Absence of impregnations in the crystal, especially in the large one, is one of the main signs of forgery. That is, it is not even a hydrothermal emerald, but a piece of glass, plastic or other synthetic material that has nothing to do with the emerald. But grown in laboratory crystals have small impregnations, like natural stones. This process is difficult to control, it happens by itself, because everything follows the same pattern as in natural deposits.
As for the form, the scientistsare wide. They can get almost any stone, which, when cut, will turn into a beautiful specimen. In addition, it is possible to grow fairly large stones on the laboratory, but it is worth mentioning that this happens rarely. The large emerald is alarming, suggesting a fake. Therefore, even hydrothermal gems are usually small.
Properties of GT emeralds
The laboratory stones grown have the samechemical formula, as natural. They have a high density, they are not easy to process. Hydrothermal emerald visually almost does not differ from natural emerald, but nevertheless has some features:
- emeralds of GT always have high transparency;
- contain inclusions in the form of tubules;
- can have scattered brownish patches;
- sometimes include air bubbles;
- can be a blue-green color.
Of course, these signs are very arbitrary. In many respects, the properties of the stone depend on the features of the technology and the raw materials.
Are there similarities?
Hydrothermal emerald is similar to natural stone quite strongly. So much so that sometimes even a professional jeweler finds it difficult to determine the origin of the gem.
But with all the obvious similar qualities of differencenevertheless is. This is something that can not be explained and described with the help of formulas, as if it is a matter of the power that has been absorbed for millions of years. The natural emerald plays sides, pouring in the sun's rays, hydrothermal crystals can not make them a competition at all.
Use in jewelry art
This stone is often processed and enclosed inworthy rim even the most solid jewelry houses. The use of a hydrothermal emerald is not at all a mauveton, of course, provided an adequate price and no falsifications.
When creating jewelry jewelers are guided bysome rules. For emeralds of GT, rational additions are needed. For example, earrings with a hydrothermal emerald are decorated with cubic zirconia, crystals of rock crystal, other hydrothermal gems. Of metals, most commonly used are ordinary yellow gold and silver.
Price list
Another feature that distinguishes a hydrothermal emerald is the price. Of course, it is much lower than a stone of the same size, grown by nature.
On average, the price of a cut stone is 30-50 dollars per carat. In some cases, the cost may be higher - for example, stones with impeccable cleanliness and fine cut.
Precautions when buying
If you are looking for a ring with a hydrothermal emerald,knowing in advance the origin of the stone, the risks of running into a fake are not great. Remember that this stone is much stronger than glass, it can not be scratched so easily. In addition, the emerald GT has a deep color, often with a shade of blue.
Another thing is if an unscrupulous jeweler gives outartificially grown stone for 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 should not be trusted by casual sellers, too low prices, jewelry without documents. Do not hesitate to ask the seller for quality certificates, the results of the examinations.
Focus not only on the appearance of products, but also on your own feelings. Experts say that if your stone, then you will immediately feel it.
