For the first time , a ruby has been grown in situ by plant a “ ruby seed ” in a platinum ring . The novel approach could transmute the jewelry diligence as it demonstrates that , theoretically , we no longer take to mine to get greatgemstones .
The ruby source used to grow the Lucy Stone in situ can be created from waste gem material , something we have plenty of . The idea comes from University of the West of England ( UWE ) ’s jeweller - turned - scientist Sofie Boons , who took four age to develop the appendage that can transmute that waste into a stone that ’s identical to mined ruby .
“ I hope this origination will put an end to the long - shared narrative that laboratory - grown gems are ‘ man-made ’ or less worthful than mined one , ” said Boons , who is a Senior Lecturer in Design Crafts , in astatement . “ After all , these neo - gemstones grow following thepatterns set by nature , resulting in stunning lifelike facets , which each time a seed is acquire will be unlike . ”
The progress of the ruby seed’s growth.Image credit: Sofie Boons
Boons hop her enquiry could herald a new epoch of “ urban mined gem ” that combats the negatives of both mine andlab - grown gemstones . While excavation can harm the surroundings through soil wearing , deforestation , and ecosystem destruction , lab - grown gemstones also have their restriction because creating them from scratch is an energy - intensive process .
Urban mined gemstones start off with pieces of permissive waste gem material or grit ( small gemstone pieces used in industry ) . This is then develop in a furnace with the aid of a fluxion solution ( a chemical substance that lowers the melting temperature of aluminium oxide , which is what ruby is made of ) , creating a beautiful deep red in a issue of day .
The end outcome is structurally very to mined rubies with the same caliber , and the best bit ? We may already have all the waste cloth we demand to take the deep red diligence to the full surface - side .
“ In theory , we have enough stuff on the planet today to kibosh excavation , ” continued Boons . “ By share this inquiry , I hope to put power into the hands of jewellers , as the technique is simple enough for them to adopt – it ’s not just for scientists . I ’m looking forward to enlarge the research , looking at other gemstone colours and growing in different metallic element structures . ”
“ This is a whole advanced and more sustainable physical process that could transform how jewellers incorporate gemstones in jewellery , a process that is literally outgrowing traditional practices . ordinarily with chipped gems , jewellers have to cut them even small before using them , which therefore take down the value , but this process enable them to use waste gemstone cloth to uprise gems as self-aggrandising as they take , in situ in metallic element structures . ”
