UWE Bristol Researchers Grow Rubies and Sapphires Inside 3D Printed Platinum

A team at the Centre for Print Research (CFPR) at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has developed a method for placing a seed crystal inside a platinum structure during manufacture. The gemstone can then grow directly within the part. Led by researcher Sophie Boons, the project is called neo-gemstone. It aims to grow rubies and sapphires in platinum settings using scraps and offcuts from existing gemstones, rather than mining them or growing them in an industrial environment.

So, what does it mean to “grow” a gemstone? Gemstones can be made in a laboratory, in addition to being extracted from a mine. Essentially, the process speeds up the recreation of conditions found in the Earth, including pressure, temperature, and chemical composition, to crystallize pure minerals. The CFPR team used a hybrid system to grow gemstones without reproducing these industrial conditions.

Photo credits: CREATE Education

The seed crystal had to remain in an exact position within the metal structure without moving or being damaged during manufacturing. Conventional methods could not meet these requirements. In investment casting, molten metal is poured into a mold. The flow, buoyancy, and thermal shock can displace or break any seed inside. Platinum’s high melting point further increases that risk. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was also unsuitable. The part would remain buried in metal powder throughout manufacturing, preventing access to insert a seed before continuing the process.