A relative newcomer to the international gem market is an attractive flux-grown synthetic emerald of Russian manufacture. This article provides a general discussion of the technique used to grow these stones and describes their gemological properties and chemistry. The Russian flux-grown synthetic emeralds were found to be similar to other flux-grown emeralds in refractive index and specific gravity, and therefore to be readily distinguished from natural emeralds on the basis of these two properties.
A relative newcomer to the international gem market is an attractive flux-grown synthetic emerald of Russian manufacture. This article provides a general discussion of the technique used to grow these stones and describes their gemological properties and chemistry. The Russian flux-grown synthetic emeralds were found to be similar to other flux-grown emeralds in refractive index and specific gravity, and therefore to be readily distinguished from natural emeralds on the basis of these two properties.
