Synthetic Quartz

Why would anyone want to make a synthetic mineral when so much gem quality natural material is available? Technology.

The first synthesized quartz appeared in the mid-nineteenth century. Efforts yielded microscopic crystals. Later on, in the 1890's, macroscopic specimens were reported. Development did not make any notable advances until World War II when the supply of quartz to Germany was cut off.

After the war, researchers and the Army Signal Corps studied work done by the Germans and developed it into a commercially viable process. Synthetic quartz is more stable and uniform than natural material and well suited to applications in electronics. Modern watches, for example, keep accurate time because of a tiny piece of quartz shaped like a tuning fork. Quartz in cell phones and radios filter radio frequencies.

Quartz is grown in large, canon shaped autoclaves. These essentially work like pressure cookers. A nutrient solution consisting of crushed quartz, alkaline water and sodium hydroxide is placed in the autoclave. Then the seed plates are lowered into the chamber. Then, apply the heat and pressure. Read this for the in-depth explanation of how this works. Crystals are ready in three to four weeks.

Colors may be induced by "doping" the nutrient solution with various elements. Iron produces green or yellow which can be irradiated to make purple. Cobalt produces blue.

In addition to technological applications, synthetic quartz can be found in jewelry. The growth process has advanced to the point where only well equipped gem labs can separate synthetic from natural quartz gems. However, blue and strongly colored greens are always synthetic.




Sources
Colored Stones course material from GIA
http://www.vogelcrystals.net/Hydrothermal.htm
http://www.roditi.com/SingleCrystal/Quartz/Hydrothermal_Growth.html
http://sawyerllc.com/newstart.htm
http://www.qiaj.jp/pages/frame20/page01-e.html

Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Garden Party

Created by The FamiLee Jewels

Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Supplies: Turn up the heat!

It's August; it's supposed to be hot. Things will cool off soon, so enjoy the heat while it lasts. Click on any picture to learn more about the item.











The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com

The first "real" jewelry

For years we had been telling each other we would do it, my best friend and I. We would ask our mothers and then we would go to what was then called the "U-Lädle" because that was a cool store that we loved, and get our ears pierced.
We were teenagers when we finally did it and we had to give it to each other for our birthdays to make us do it. Our mothers told us to go to a reputable shop though, not one that smelled funny from all the incense sticks. And there we were now, trembling as if we were about to be fed to the lions. Pathetic. But we did it. My first earrings after the surgical post ones were silver hoops. I loved them and I was so mad at myself for not getting my piercings earlier.
So today I wondered what earrings I would have loved to have if I had been a little girl at that time.

Imagine little Cat in this beautiful summer dress called Pink Wonderland from The Eye Candy Boutique.


Her godmother has promised she would get some real silver earrings and she feels this is her first step into the world of fashion. Don't laugh, little girls are like that, today maybe more than ever. And after all the dress is a great start. But what to choose? These earrings are all so beautiful!

There are the silver flower earrings by RioRita for example. They are very cute indeed. She likes flowers a lot as you can tell from the picture.


She also likes the tiny red dots by Azoho. They are light enough to go great with her pink dress.


Then her look goes to the white topaz. They are in Two Silver Moons' shop and are called perfect little earrings.


The touch of sparkle wins little Cat over, at least this time. An era begins .....

P.S. The "U-Lädle" still exists and it still smells funny from the incense. It's called "Paradox" now, but has still the same owner and is still in the same building although it has been remodeled. When I decided on an impulse that I needed a third hole in one ear, I went there. Mission accomplished at last ;-)

By Cat's Wire

The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.