Shelby Gem Factory

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Shelby Gem Factory

The Shelby Gem Factory is a Michigan company that manufactures man-made gemstones through
proprietary processes. It is the home of an enterprise which now makes gems at farflung subsidiary
factories. The factory makes more varieties of man-made gemstones than any other in the world. [1][2]
[3] [A]
In one facility it grows and facets gems, including simulated diamonds,[1][5] and mounts them in
gold.
Contents
[hide]

1History

2Factory description

3Man-made gem manufacturing process

4See also

5References

History[edit]
See also: Larry Paul Kelley

5.1Notes

5.2Citations

5.3Sources

6External links

Larry Paul Kelley and wife Jo Kelley

owners of Shelby Gem Factory

ICT Incorporated, trade name "Shelby Gem Factory", is sited in Shelby, Oceana County, on the west
coast of Michigan'sLower Peninsula.[1] It was founded in 1970 by Craig Hardy and Larry Paul Kelley.[1]
[5]
The Kelleys later came to have full ownership of the now family-owned and operated business.[6][B]
The Shelby Gem Factory initially produced only synthetic rubywith scientific lasers being the
principal application. However, the greater profit potential of transmuting ruby rods into gemstones
led to a change in the enterprise's focus. A colorless variant crystal was developed by
experimentation with different materials and proportions. This was the first simulated diamond
variety.[3] It became the first business anywhere to mass-produce cubic zirconia (CZ). In the 1970s,
Shelby Gem Factory rode the popularity wave of popularity cubic zirconia enjoyed. At its peak, tons
of cubic zirconia were produced for the world market. Subsidiary factories were opened in China,
India and Panama to keep up with demand.[5]

Factory description[edit]

Shelby Gem Factory jewelry

of man-made synthetic rubies

Formerly, factory tours were offered.[8][9] However, they were discontinued due to liability concerns
due to the "very high temperatures and extremely bright light" and the unavailability of affordable
insurance to cover the risk.[3] In fact, some of the furnaces burn at 5,040 F (2,780 C).[8]
The factory features a museum, showroom, and theater. It is a popular destination for schools,
venture tours, and lapidary clubs. The 50-seat Art and Science theater shows visitors the differences
between the processes that produce natural and man-made gems.[2] Exhibits on-site include a
lapidary machine visitors can try out for themselves to learn about gem cutting and a lowtemperature model of a working crucible-furnace, along with many photos of the now-off-limits
factory floor.[3]
The public can purchase discounted gemstone jewelry directly from the factory at a reduced price
(compared to mined stones). Jo Kelley, wife of Larry Paul Kelley, attributes the factory's increase in
sales between 2008 and 2010 to the weak national economy, postulating that a consumer who had
spent $3,000 on a gift for his wife a few years previously would be more motivated to visit the Shelby
Gem Factory showroom where he might be able to spend as little as $300 on a comparable gift. [7]

Man-made gem manufacturing process[edit]

A cubic zirconia gem-making furnace

The gems are synthesized in a furnace. It uses an US $85,000 heat

resistant iridium[3] crucible heated by surrounding electric coils. Temperatures range from 3,500 to
5,000 F (1,930 to 2,760 C). Crystal-producing mix is put into this furnace and melted. Then a
slowly-spinning rod, the "seed", is lowered into the crucible, circulating the molten minerals, keeping
an even temperature throughout and creating a homogeneous mixture. Raised at an agonizingly
slow pace over the course of weeks, the rotating rod cools the liquid and allows a large crystal to
form. Kelley says it takes several weeks to grow a gem crystal.[7]
The factory does not use the method of "pulling" crystals using temperature differences like the
process that forms an icicle. Rather, it uses small fragments of mined gems, which are then used as
seeds to recrystalize liquid into larger gemstones. This is so-called czochralski process, which is akin
to chemical vapor deposition. According to Kelly: "As far as I know, we are the only company on
Earth that uses the second method."[3]
Shelby Gem Factory craftspeople then cut several dozen rough gems from each crystal using
a diamond saw. A rough gemstone piece is placed onto a faceting machine where over fifty facets
are cut and polished to create a finished gemstone.[7] ICT has a master jeweler on staff to mount the
finished gemstones in gold settings; Kelley purchases rough gold castings from out of state, and
finishes these at the factory to make settings as needed. [7] The crystals made by the Shelby Gem
Factory are used in jewelry and scientific industries worldwide.
Shelby Gem Factory's simulated diamonds have a D color rating, the highest rating for diamonds (as
determined by the Gemological Institute of America). Kelley claims their man-made simulated white
diamonds are flawless, like expensive real diamonds. [C] In addition to simulated diamonds, Shelby
Gem Factory also manufactures simulated citrine and topaz, along with other birthstone substitutes.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]
Notes[edit]

Crucible

Skull crucible

Cubic zirconia

1.

Jump up^ The company website says "We REALLY are the only
company in the world that actually makes uncut gems, facets them,
mounts them in gold... There are many companies who say they make
synthetic gems, and say they make jewelry, but we know of no one
else that actually does it all. All the ones we know about buy already
faceted gems and have their jewelry made in China, Korea, India or
Thailand."[4]

2.

Jump up^ Kelleys spouse, Jo Kelley became a partner in 1979. Jo is

the general office manager, while older son John is in charge of the
crystal-growing process.[1] Kelley says that his son John has better
skills in seeing what can be done in a particular crystal than himself.
John became the head crystal grower as of 2010.[1][5][5][7]

3.

Jump up^ Kelley also makes the claim that it is impossible to

distinguish a Shelby simulated diamond from a natural one using only
the naked eye. See Crystallographic defects in diamond.[1] He claimed
that "many jewelers cannot tell" whether a stone is real or a Shelby
Gem Factory simulated diamond.[7]

1.

^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Zoladz, Chris (Feb 14, 2013). "Made in

Michigan: The Shelby Gem Factory". Lakeshore News Top
Headlines. WZZM television station. RetrievedSeptember
3, 2015. The company makes a wider variety of gem stones than any
other company in the world.

2.

^ Jump up to:a b "Shelby Man-Made Gemstone Factory". Pure

Michigan. Michigan Economic Development Corporation. 2015.
Retrieved September 3, 2015. The factory (which has been in
operation since 1970 at the same location) actually makes more
varieties of Man-Made Gemstones than any other company in the
World.

3.

^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Kates, Kristi (December 31, 2012). "A Flaming

Success at the Shelby Gem Factory". Northern Express.
Retrieved September 8, 2015.

4.

Jump up^ "Shelby Gem Factory Home page". Shelby Gem Factory.
RetrievedNovember 6, 2015.

5.

^ Jump up to:a b c d e "Shelby Gem Factory celebrates 40

years". Oceana's Herald-Journal. December 1, 2010.
Retrieved September 3, 2015.

6.

Jump up^ Keefer, Melissa (February 7, 2015). "Shelby Gem owners

love using science to create beauty". Ludington Daily News.

7.

^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Tableman, Jan (2011). "Jewel of West Michigan:

Shelby Gem Factory".Michigan Country Lines (Okemos, Michigan:
Michigan Electric Cooperative Association): 1, 3, 1011. line feed
character in |title= at position 24 (help)

Citations[edit]

8.

^ Jump up to:a b DeZutter, Hank; DeZutter, Pamela Little (June 3,

1993). "Idlewild, Michigan: These Parts". Chicago Reader.
Retrieved November 8, 2015.

9.

Jump up^ Bonstell, Christy L. (August 2, 2008). "Factory tours take

you behind the scenes and satisfy your curiousity [sic]". The Detroit
News. Retrieved November 8, 2015.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to Shelby Gem
Factory.

Official website

Shelby Gem Factory pictures

Shelby Gem Factory frequently asked questions

Shelby Gem Factory visit

ICT YouTube video on explanation of semiconductor invention for

making solar cells

Categories:

Technology companies of the United States

American inventions

American inventors

Economy of Michigan

Energy harvesting

Gemologists

Oceana County, Michigan

Physical chemistry

Science and technology in Michigan

Solar cells

Synthetic minerals

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This page was last modified on 3 December 2015, at 17:00.

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