Chatham Created Gemstones — The Smart Choice for Exceptional Beauty and Value
A beautiful gemstone doesn’t have to come with an extraordinary price tag. For the smart consumer who values beauty, quality, consistency and value, Chatham Created Gemstones offer one of the most compelling choices in fine jewelry today.
Chatham gemstones are not inexpensive imitations. They are genuine lab-created gemstones grown using the sophisticated and lengthy flux growing process that recreate the conditions in which gemstones form in nature. The result is a gemstone with the same fundamental physical, chemical and optical characteristics as its mined counterpart — but without the rarity premium associated with exceptional natural stones.
Why Smart Buyers Choose Chatham
With a Chatham’s huge range of fine natural ruby, emerald, sapphire, alexandrite, Spinel, Chrysoberyl and Opal, much of the price is determined by rarity. Exceptional color, clarity and size can cause prices to rise dramatically.
Chatham changes that equation.
Because the gemstone crystal is grown under carefully controlled conditions, Chatham can produce extraordinarily beautiful color and clarity at a fraction of what comparable-looking fine natural gemstones can cost. Instead of paying primarily for geological rarity, you are investing in the qualities you actually see and enjoy every day: rich color, brilliance, clarity and beauty.
That makes Chatham an especially intelligent choice for engagement rings, anniversary jewelry, heirloom designs and anyone who would rather choose a larger or finer-looking gemstone without dramatically increasing their budget.
Real Gemstones. Exceptional Color.
Chatham Created Gemstones are grown as gemstones — not coated, dyed or superficially enhanced to imitate them.
Their beautiful colors are an integral part of the crystal growth process and are permanent. Chatham gemstones are known for exceptional consistency and can offer the intense color and attractive clarity that would be extraordinarily rare — and extraordinarily expensive — in a comparable mined gemstone.
Choose from spectacular Chatham Alexandrite, Ruby, Emerald, Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire, Champagne Sapphire and many other distinctive gem varieties such as Spinel, Chrysoberyl and Opal.
More Beauty for Your Budget
For many buyers, this is where the decision becomes simple.
The same budget that might purchase a smaller, more included or less intensely colored natural gemstone can often purchase an exceptionally beautiful Chatham Created Gemstone with striking color, impressive clarity and substantial presence.
In other words, you don’t have to compromise on the part of the gemstone you actually fall in love with.
More color. More size. More beauty. Better value.
That is why Chatham Created Gemstones can be such a smart luxury purchase.
A Responsible Alternative to Mining
Chatham gemstones are created without extracting the finished gemstone from the earth. For consumers interested in reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional gemstone mining, a laboratory-grown gemstone provides an appealing alternative while still delivering the beauty and durability expected from fine gemstone jewelry.
Why Buy Your Chatham Gemstone From AfricaGems?
Where you purchase your gemstone matters just as much as which gemstone you choose.
AfricaGems has been helping customers select exceptional gemstones since 1984. We combine decades of gemstone expertise with competitive pricing and the personal service of an established family gemstone business.
When you purchase a Chatham Created Gemstone from AfricaGems, you receive:
- Over 40 years of gemstone experience
- Carefully selected Chatham Created Gemstones
- Exceptional pricing and value
- A 30-day inspection period
- Free U.S. return shipping
- A 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Secure online purchasing
- Knowledgeable gemstone assistance before and after your purchase
- The ability to pair your gemstone with thousands of fine jewelry mounting options
- The satisfaction of knowing 1% of your purchase is donated to the Zambian Children’s Fund
Buying a gemstone online should never feel like a gamble. At AfricaGems, you have the opportunity to examine your gemstone in person and make sure you love it.
Chatham Gemstones - From Humble Beginnings - The Unique Discovery of Lab Grown Chatham Gemstones
The renowned Chatham gemstone has its roots in a San Francisco garage occupied by a 12 year old chemistry buff in the 1920s. Carroll Chatham was always drawn to scientific experimentation and as a young boy he set up a lab in his parent's garage, creating home-made smoke bombs and fireworks for fun. He later became interested in gemstones and replicated some of Henri Moisson's 1890 failed diamond creation experiments. After an explosion shook his entire neighborhood resulted from the immense pressure being used, Chatham turned his attention to Emeralds as crystal formation requires less pressure. When he left home for college, his father serendipitously pulled the power plug on the science project which enabled Emeralds to form in the crucible. After three years of trying to understand exactly how the Emerald crystals had grown, he realized that by duplicating the conditions deep within the Earth, with the proper temperatures, pressures and chemical solutions, that his laboratory was capable of actually growing gems. In 1938, after many years of research and determination, Carroll F. Chatham, a self-taught scientist in California, had finally discovered the secret of growing gems. A discovery so unique, it remains a carefully guarded family secret to this day.