This is the first time a glow-in-the-dark crystal has been created in a laboratory. Photo.

Scientist and jeweler Sophie Boons from the University of the West of England (UWE) has created a revolutionary jewel. The gem is the world's first laboratory-grown crystal that can glow in the dark.

The luminous crystal was created in collaboration with the Swiss company BREVALOR Sarl, using their new material "BRG" to create an unusual stone. It not only glows in the dark, but also boasts a bright color during the day, writes IflScience.

The Luminous Stone was created as part of a multi-year deep dive by renowned jewelry designer Sophie Boons into the viability, limitations, and possible uses of experimentally grown crystals in contemporary jewelry.

According to experts, BRG crystals are created in a manner similar to the production of silicon crystals. The manufacturers do not disclose the detailed process, but Sophie Boons named the glow formula.

"The glowing effects of BRGs are due to the Eu²+ ions introduced into the crystal matrix and two so-called traps associated with Dy³+ and Nd³+ that allow them to retain light for a certain period of time," Boons explained in scientific terms.

However, the creator of the unique crystal emphasized that the light in the stone in the dark "can currently last for 24 hours or more, with an intensity that slowly decreases over time."

"As a designer, I was interested in looking at creating jewelry that has an identity in the light in the dark and exploring new effects. I call it sculpture with light. When I wear the pieces, the green light and the way it transforms the design fascinates me as a creator and a user," emphasized Sophie Boons.

The jeweler said that research has shown that art and technology can influence each other, not by opposing but by inspiring each other.

"My research marks just the beginning of an amazing journey in which lab-grown crystals are being used for innovation in jewelry and the broader creative context," said Sophie.

The scientist and designer's goal is to launch an artistic center for crystal cultivation. "It will bring together crystal producers and artists to work on more environmentally friendly and innovative crystal materials to create pigments, glazes, enamels, and, of course, gemstones," Sophie Bunce summarized.

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