‘World first’ ruby grown in jewellery setting in lab

To grow the gem, Ms Boons started with a ruby “seed” taken from waste gemstone offcuts.

She placed the fragment into a platinum setting, like a ring, and then used a chemical agent called a “flux”. This lowers the temperature, which enables growth in the gem.

“I am experimenting growing them inside the furnace for between five and 50 hours,” said Ms Boons. “The longer time means I get crystals which are a little bit cleaner and bigger.

“I’m working to shorten the time process to make it more sustainable.”

The method challenges the notion of man-made gemstones being synthetic, she added.

“The slightly unpredictable growth features natural facets, and this I find fascinating as a jewellery maker,” she said.