Chatham Lab-Grown Gemstones: Exceptional Gems Arrive at La Perle Rare

Back-to-school season is already behind us. At La Perle Rare, it’s time to start thinking about the holiday season and finding those little treasures that make beautiful gifts, or simply something special to treat yourself.

That’s why we’re delighted to introduce Chatham, a pioneer in the world of lab-grown gemstones, recognized for decades for the exceptional quality of its gems.

Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites and diamonds: Chatham gemstones, showcased in refined jewelry designs, stand out for their rich, vibrant colors. These creations deserve to be admired up close to fully appreciate the shapes, cuts and colors rarely seen in traditional gemstone jewelry.

 

The Origins of Chatham

The Chatham story began in San Francisco in the 1920s with the rather ambitious dream of a young boy: to create diamonds. At the time, diamonds fascinated scientists far beyond the world of jewelry. Their exceptional hardness and thermal properties made them highly sought after for industrial and research applications. Recreating in a laboratory a crystal formed naturally deep within the Earth was an extraordinary challenge.

At just 12 years old, Carroll Chatham had already set up a gemology laboratory in his parents’ garage. After a particularly convincing explosion, his father reportedly suggested that he give up on diamonds. Carroll turned his attention to another gemstone: the emerald.

In the 1930s, while studying at the California Institute of Technology, a power outage caused an unexpected event in his laboratory. When Carroll returned, he discovered that emerald crystals had formed inside his equipment.

It would take several more years for him to understand what had happened and successfully reproduce the phenomenon. In 1936, he founded the company that still bears his name and continued his research into gemstone growth.

Over the decades, Chatham successfully recreated several gemstones: rubies in 1958, alexandrites in 1972 and sapphires beginning in 1975. In 1993, Tom Chatham even fulfilled his father’s dream by producing diamonds.

Long before lab-grown gemstones became popular with the general public, Chatham was already pushing the boundaries of science. This legacy of innovation and research remains at the heart of the company.

 

Lab-Grown, Yet Genuine Gemstones

The term “lab-grown” might suggest an imitation. That isn’t the case.

A lab-grown gemstone, such as a Chatham emerald, has the same chemical composition, crystal structure and fundamental properties as its natural counterpart. What differs is its origin: rather than forming deep within the Earth, the crystal grows in a controlled environment.

A Chatham emerald is therefore a genuine emerald. A Chatham ruby is a genuine ruby. And a Chatham alexandrite possesses the characteristics of this fascinating gemstone, whose color changes depending on the lighting. The difference lies in how the crystal developed.

 

A Growth Process That Takes Time

For some of its gemstones, Chatham uses flux growth, a particularly slow and meticulous process. The ingredients needed to form the crystal are kept at very high temperatures in a specialized liquid known as flux. A small fragment of the desired gemstone, called a seed crystal, serves as the starting point. New material gradually forms around it, allowing the crystal to grow.

At Chatham, this process can take several months and, depending on the gemstone, sometimes up to a year. Throughout this time, temperature and growing conditions must be carefully controlled.

This lengthy growth process produces gemstones with rich, vibrant colors and characteristics that closely resemble those found in natural gemstones.

 

Expertise Reflected in Their Value

One question often comes up: why do Chatham lab-grown gemstones cost more than some other lab-grown gems?

Their price reflects more than the raw materials alone. It also accounts for decades of expertise, specialized equipment, the time required to grow the crystal and the cutting process that ultimately reveals its beauty. At Chatham, part of the rough crystal may even be sacrificed to achieve the desired color, proportions and quality.

Choosing a Chatham lab-grown gemstone means choosing more than a gemstone created in a laboratory: it means choosing the result of nearly a century of research, innovation and expertise.

In addition, every Chatham jewelry piece comes with a certificate of authenticity and a lifetime warranty.

 

An Ethical Choice

Because they are grown in a laboratory, Chatham gemstones do not require mining a deposit to extract the gemstone itself. For some people, this makes them an appealing option when looking to reduce their connection to social issues that can be associated with mining, including working conditions and the rights of communities in certain producing regions.

Chatham also highlights its responsible approach through its partnership with One Tree Planted. For every piece of jewelry sold, one tree is planted. It’s a tangible initiative that adds another dimension to the company’s commitment.

 

Why Chatham?

Choosing to introduce a new jewelry brand at La Perle Rare is not a decision we take lightly. We first want to understand the company, its creations and the people behind them.

It was at JCK Las Vegas, one of the jewelry industry’s major international events, that we had the opportunity to meet Chatham’s representatives. That first encounter quickly made us want to learn more.

One detail was particularly reassuring: other Chatham retailers were at the show and openly shared their experiences with the company. Their very positive feedback reinforced the impression we already had. When choosing a new company to work with, knowing that other jewelry professionals trust them is incredibly valuable.

We were also drawn to Chatham’s remarkable variety of gemstones. Vibrant colors, distinctive shapes and unusual cuts—some of which can be difficult to find among traditional colored gemstones. This diversity opens the door to jewelry that feels different and allows the personality of the person wearing it to shine through.

Then there was the human connection. Chatham’s representatives were attentive, generous with their time and receptive to our questions. They weren’t simply there to present a collection; they genuinely wanted to share their knowledge, offer guidance and help us better understand their gemstones.

That matters to us. Behind every new collection we choose for La Perle Rare are not only pieces we love, but also people and a company we trust.

 

Our Chatham Favorites

Choosing which pieces would make their debut at La Perle Rare was no easy task! Chatham’s variety of colors, shapes and cuts gave us plenty to choose from.

Still, a few favorites stood out. Here are five pieces that perfectly capture what drew us to this new collection.

 

A Pendant Everyone Loves

This 14K yellow and white gold pendant, set with lab-grown diamonds, is probably the entire team’s favorite piece—and it’s easy to see why.

Its center diamond immediately catches the eye with its impressive size and remarkable clarity. The combination of yellow and white gold also brings a contemporary touch to this elegant, distinctive piece.

The Emerald You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Dreaming of an emerald engagement ring, but have always been told this gemstone is too delicate for everyday wear? This Chatham creation might change your mind.

Chatham lab-grown emeralds generally have fewer inclusions and microfractures than many natural emeralds. This characteristic can contribute to their durability and make them less sensitive to impact.

We also love this 14K yellow gold ring for its simplicity, with just enough originality to give it character. Timeless, yet far from ordinary.

An Alexandrite You Have to See in Person

Alexandrite is one of the most fascinating and rare colored gemstones. Chatham offers a lab-grown version, making this exceptional gem more accessible.

These 14K white gold earrings are worth seeing in person. Their alexandrites have a mesmerizing depth of color that is difficult to fully appreciate in a photograph.

This is the kind of jewelry you need to see move beneath the light to discover all the subtle nuances of the stone. A true favorite for anyone drawn to gemstones unlike any other.

A Fiery Touch of Red

This delicate 14K yellow gold pendant, set with a lab-grown ruby and lab-grown diamonds, certainly doesn’t go unnoticed.

Its intense, fiery red instantly brings personality to an outfit, whether simple or more dressed up. It’s a beautiful way to add a touch of color to everyday looks—or make the jewelry the focal point for a special occasion.

A small pendant, perhaps, but one with plenty of character.

A Sapphire That Stands Apart

This 14K yellow and white gold ring, accented with lab-grown diamonds, showcases a beautiful lab-grown sapphire in an antique cushion cut.

And it’s precisely the cut that caught our attention. Its proportions and facets give it a personality quite different from a more traditional round or oval sapphire. The result is elegant, distinctive and unmistakably fine jewelry.

Discover Chatham at La Perle Rare

These pieces are just a glimpse of the new Chatham collection at La Perle Rare.

Some jewelry can be appreciated in a photograph, while other pieces truly need to be seen moving under the light to reveal their full beauty. This is especially true of colored gemstones, whose nuances can take on an entirely different dimension in person.

We invite you to discover Chatham lab-grown gemstones, try on your favorites and let our team help you find the piece that feels right for you.

And with the holiday season approaching, it may also be the perfect time to stop by and start your wish list.

 

Chatham at a Glance

• Expertise dating back to 1936, dedicated to the creation of lab-grown gemstones.
• An exceptional palette of gemstones: emeralds, rubies, sapphires, alexandrites and lab-grown diamonds.
• A slow, carefully controlled growth process that can take several months for certain gemstones.
• A mark of confidence, with a certificate of authenticity and lifetime warranty accompanying every piece.
• A favorite discovered in Las Vegas, with gemstones that reveal their full richness under the light. A collection now available at La Perle Rare.

Sources:  Chatham, Africagems