Discover BIRON® Gems
Other Lab Created Gem Roughs
BIRON® Sapphire and BIRON® Ruby Roughs
The BIRON® Sapphire and BIRON® Ruby Roughs are of the hardest and most durable varieties of gemstones. They are both made from a mineral called corundum and can be made into different colours with the addition of oxides. Inter-Pacific proposes both BIRON® Lab Sapphires and BIRON® Lab Rubies for wholesalers and retailers.
BIRON® Padparadscha Rough
The BIRON® Padparadscha Rough is a rare type of sapphire made up of the same hard crystallised mineral known as corundum and comes in a beautiful mix of pink and orange. The unique colouration of this gemstone is caused by the trace elements of chromium and iron and make it one of the rarest in the world. Inter-Pacific proposes BIRON® Lab Padparadschas for wholesalers and retailers.
BIRON® Lab-grown Alexandrite
The BIRON® Alexandrite Rough is made up of a type of mineral known as chrysoberyl and has both trace elements chromium and beryllium. It is considered rare for its colour change from green to red. It is known as the “emerald by day and ruby by night”. Inter-Pacific proposes BIRON® Lab Alexandrites for wholesalers and retailers.
BIRON® Lab-grown Opal
The BIRON® Opal Rough is a lab-created gemstone made up of the mineral hydrated silica. Opals are transparent to opaque gemstones that have a waxy or iridescent lustre and multiple colours in a kaleidoscopic display. It comes in many varieties and ranges of colours and is often used in jewellery despite its low wearability. Inter-Pacific proposes BIRON® Lab Opals for wholesalers and retailers.
More About Synthetic Gem Rough
How are the lab roughs grown?
The BIRON® Sapphire Rough, BIRON® Ruby Rough, Baron® Alexandrite Rough and BIRON® Padparadscha Rough are all created by the crystal-pulling method. The crystal pulling method dips a seed into a heated container of melted nutrients and synthetic crystals slowly grow from it as it is gradually pulled away from the melt.
The BIRON® Opal Rough is made via sedimentation, also known as heterogeneous crystallisation. A three-step process involves microscopic spheres of silica that are created through precipitation. This is followed by 1-year dehydration, after which the spheres are consolidated by impregnating the gaps between the spheres with silica, which create the opal’s play-of-colour.
Schematic of the principle of the Czochralski method. Photo Credit: G. Müller, J. Friedrich
The Properties of the Other Lab Roughs
The BIRON® Sapphire Rough, The BIRON® Ruby Rough, and The BIRON® Padparadscha Rough are all made out of the mineral corundum and have a trigonal crystal system. They hold a hardness level of 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and have a vitreous lustre.
The Properties of Alexandrite
The BIRON® Alexandrite Rough is made up of the mineral chrysoberyl and has an orthorhombic crystal system. This red-green colour-changing gemstone has a hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and its lustre is vitreous.
The Properties of Opal
The BIRON® Opal Rough holds the same chemical composition and other properties as natural opal, including the mineral hydrated silica. It has a hardness level of 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and is more resistant to heat at 800℃.
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