History of synthetic emeralds

The first description of emerald synthesis is given in a number of works by Jacques Joseph Ebelmen in the period 1846-1851 (1814-1852). However, his experiments were of more scientific significance, although they showed the possibility of synthesizing such stones as emerald. And until the early 1890s, experiments in growing emeralds did not have commercial significance.

The first emeralds suitable for making jewelry inserts were first synthesized in Germany by Professor Richard Nacken (1884-1971) and the chemical company "IG-Farben Industries". However, despite the technological success, the stones synthesized by them (as a rule, it was beryl grown with a thin layer of synthetic emerald) practically did not enter the jewelry inserts market.

The first synthetic (flux) emeralds, which entered the jewelry insert market in the late 1930s, were represented by the products of Carroll Chatham (1914-1983, USA). And since 1960, the first synthetic emeralds grown by the hydrothermal method appeared on the market, produced by Johann Lechleitner (1920-2006, Austria).

The first emeralds completely synthesized by the hydrothermal method were presented on the jewelry stone market by the Union Carbide Corporation (USA), namely its Linde division. Then came emeralds from Vacuum Ventures (USA), produced by its Regency Created Emeralds division, and emeralds represented by the Biron trademark (Australia).

Emeralds produced by other synthesis methods (gas-flame method, gas-phase deposition method) are also known, but have not received commercial distribution.

Currently, synthetic emeralds are commercially produced by a number of companies in the main industrialized countries using both flux and hydrothermal methods. The bulk of commercial stones come to the market from China, Japan, Russia and the USA.