‘Nanosital’ was developed in 2013 by the specialists of the Rusgems group of companies. It belongs to the group of materials called glass-ceramics, which contain very small crystals framed by a glass matrix. This type of material was first developed in the 1950s, and nowadays there are dozens of such materials, each differing in chemical structure and main characteristics.
The Rusgems specialists aimed to create a material that would exhibit characteristics suitable for imitation of popular gemstones, including a high refractive index, high dispersion, and a value of 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. They also sought a wide range of colors and a high melting point above 1500 degrees Celsius. To achieve these qualities, a particular chemical structure was chosen, making ‘Nanosital’ unique and different from other glass-ceramic materials.
Comparison to Other Jewellery Materials
A comparison table shows ‘Nanosital’ alongside other jewellery materials, both synthetic and natural. The table highlights ‘Nanosital’s’ density, optical properties, hardness, and melting point. Its density values are close to those of popular jewellery gemstones, such as topaz and sapphire, with an optimal weight that is not too heavy or too light.
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‘Nanosital’ has the same optical properties as the best colored gemstones, with no exaggerated unnatural shine. Its hardness provides limitless durability for items, while its appearance remains the same over the years. The material’s high melting temperature enables the application of wax casting techniques to any colored ‘Nanosital’, setting it apart from other materials like glass and quartz.
Gem-Testing Results and Corundum Production Drawbacks
When a gemmological tester is used on non-transparent varieties of ‘Nanosital’, the instrument registers them as jadeite or chrysoprase. This similarity in structure, appearance, and color helps broaden the market for such imitations.
Corundum crystals present several production challenges. Their hardness reaches 9 on the Mohs scale, causing rapid wear of processing tools. Colour unevenness limits yield, as only narrow edges of 2–3 mm retain hue while the rest remains colourless. The boules are small and hemispherical, making it difficult to cut large gemstones. Dark-colored crystals are scarce due to manufacturing difficulties, and the material commands prices up to $450 per kilogram. Together, these factors reduce overall yield and raise the cost of finished cuts. Tool wear combined with low gemstone yield makes corundum less economical for large-scale production.
Color and Transparency
‘Nanosital’ offers absolute transparency and a wide range of colors, with over 80 colors available. The Rusgems specialists achieve 100% similarity to the color of the natural prototype, making it impossible to tell the difference between a natural gemstone and its ‘Nanosital’ imitation. There is also a special group of ‘Nanosital’ that includes opaque and semi-transparent stones, such as opals, which are gaining popularity.
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Rusgems produces around 3 tons of ‘Nanosital’ per month, with production output increasing due to growing demand. ‘Nanosital’ is replacing colored Cubic Zirconia, quartz, and corundum in the low-end market segment, particularly for colors like pink, yellow, fire opal, and pink opal.
A comparison between synthetic blue corundum and ‘Nanosital’ of the same color highlights the advantages of ‘Nanosital’. While corundum has a high hardness that leads to excessive wear of processing tools, ‘Nanosital’ has a hardness of 7 Mohs, making it easier to process. ‘Nanosital’ also offers consistency and stability of color, with big pieces that can be cut into gemstones of any size.
The material’s unique properties and advantages have made it a popular choice among jewellery manufacturers and consumers alike, and its usage is expected to continue growing in the jewellery industry.
