Gemesis
Encyclopedia
The Gemesis Corporation is a privately-held company founded by Carter Clarke
in Sarasota, Florida
, United States
. The corporation grows diamonds using proprietary
technology.
During the Cold War, Soviet scientists developed diamond growth technology because diamond is the best substrate for strategic semi-conductor electronics that are less susceptible to the electromagnetic pulse
of nuclear blasts. The Soviet technology was acquired by Gemesis after the downfall of the Soviet Union
. The technology is no longer used for weapon development, but for gemstone
production.
While visiting Moscow in 1995 someone asked retired Army General and West Point graduate Carter Clarke if he wanted to buy a diamond making machine. Three months later he visited Moscow again with the scientist Reza Abbaschian and brought 3 of the machines and also 3 Russian scientists to Sarasota, Florida. After 7 years of research and development in cooperation with experts from the University of Florida
his company brought high quality diamonds onto the market.
Gemesis started marketing its diamonds by polishing them and selling directly to jewelry retailers. In 2005 diamond industry vet Clark McEwen joined the company and change the distribution model to emulate that of natural diamond miners. The company now sells rough diamonds to polishing companies.
Carbon, in graphite form, is placed in a cylindrical "core". A tiny seed diamond is placed at the bottom of the cylinder. The graphite is subjected to extreme pressure, 850,000 lbf/in³ (5.9 GPa) and temperature, 3000 °F (1600 °C) for four days. During the period, the carbon atoms within the molten metal crystallize on top of the seed diamond. A three carat (600 mg) fancy color yellow gem quality diamond grows inside the resolidified metal cylinder at the end. The metal cylinder is then dissolved in mild acid until the diamond crystal is extracted.
With the addition or elimination of certain impurities under controlled conditions, diamonds of various color can be produced. Since nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, this process is more likely to produce bright yellow diamonds than any other color. The yellow tint occurs when approximately five out of each 100,000 carbon atoms in the diamond crystal lattice are replaced with nitrogen atoms. It is ironic because natural yellow diamonds often have higher value than white diamonds.
Carter Clarke
Carter Clarke is a retired United States Army brigadier general and founded Gemesis Corporation, a manufacturer of synthetic diamonds, in 1996.-References:*...
in Sarasota, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The corporation grows diamonds using proprietary
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
technology.
During the Cold War, Soviet scientists developed diamond growth technology because diamond is the best substrate for strategic semi-conductor electronics that are less susceptible to the electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
of nuclear blasts. The Soviet technology was acquired by Gemesis after the downfall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The technology is no longer used for weapon development, but for gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
production.
While visiting Moscow in 1995 someone asked retired Army General and West Point graduate Carter Clarke if he wanted to buy a diamond making machine. Three months later he visited Moscow again with the scientist Reza Abbaschian and brought 3 of the machines and also 3 Russian scientists to Sarasota, Florida. After 7 years of research and development in cooperation with experts from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
his company brought high quality diamonds onto the market.
Gemesis started marketing its diamonds by polishing them and selling directly to jewelry retailers. In 2005 diamond industry vet Clark McEwen joined the company and change the distribution model to emulate that of natural diamond miners. The company now sells rough diamonds to polishing companies.
Carbon, in graphite form, is placed in a cylindrical "core". A tiny seed diamond is placed at the bottom of the cylinder. The graphite is subjected to extreme pressure, 850,000 lbf/in³ (5.9 GPa) and temperature, 3000 °F (1600 °C) for four days. During the period, the carbon atoms within the molten metal crystallize on top of the seed diamond. A three carat (600 mg) fancy color yellow gem quality diamond grows inside the resolidified metal cylinder at the end. The metal cylinder is then dissolved in mild acid until the diamond crystal is extracted.
With the addition or elimination of certain impurities under controlled conditions, diamonds of various color can be produced. Since nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, this process is more likely to produce bright yellow diamonds than any other color. The yellow tint occurs when approximately five out of each 100,000 carbon atoms in the diamond crystal lattice are replaced with nitrogen atoms. It is ironic because natural yellow diamonds often have higher value than white diamonds.
Manufacturers and Suppliers
- Diamande Jewellery
- Pintura Diamonds http://www.pinturadiamonds.com/
- Renaissance Diamonds http://www.renaissancediamonds.com/
- Savannah Jewellery http://www.cultureddiamondcompany.com/
- Sienna Gems
- Solaura Jewelry