Creates world's first glowing jewels, merging art with groundbreaking science and rare earths.

What if a crystal could capture light by day and glow through the night? Thanks to the efforts of a jeweler-turned-scientist, they may have just uncovered that secret, crafting a gemstone like nothing the world has ever seen.

What started as a jeweler's curiosity about lab-grown crystals has now transformed into a full-blown scientific breakthrough. After years of experimentation, researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) have managed to craft something truly extraordinary: the world's first single-stone crystal that glows in the dark.

Behind this innovation is Sofie Boons, a jeweler-turned-scientist, who collaborated with Swiss company BREVALOR Sarl to develop a groundbreaking new jewel known as BRG – Brevalor's Radiant Glow.

Unlike typical glow-in-the-dark materials that only emit light from the surface, this crystal allows light to pass through its entire structure, creating a mesmerizing glow from within. After brief exposure to daylight, it can emit a steady glow for up to 24 hours.

The secret? Specially introduced elements, working in tandem with the crystal's unique structure, capture and gradually release light.

Sofie Boons

An example of some of the more complex shapes that can be achieved through lab-grown gemstones. This BRG is a brilliant green due to europium and other elements introduced during the manufacturing process.

These crystals are created much the same way as silicon crystals, something most people are familiar with from everyday devices like computers and smartphones. Silicon, which became pivotal during the information technology revolution following the invention of the transistor in the 1950s, is now an essential part of modern electronics.

Now, BRG crystals add a flashier twist to that legacy – bringing phosphorescent brilliance to the mix.

This process works through tiny "traps" within the crystal's structure, where photons are captured. Once the light source is removed, the energy is gradually released, causing the crystal to emit a steady glow. By fine-tuning its composition, researchers have extended the glow to last up to 24 hours.

More technically, the glowing effect is achieved through the introduction of specific elements, such as the rare earths europium, dysprosium, and neodymium, into the crystal matrix.

These rare earth elements are doped into the crystal structure, allowing the material to capture and store light. While the exact nature of how these elements interact with the lattice is still under investigation, their inclusion enables the crystal to absorb energy from light sources and gradually release it, creating a sustained phosphorescent glow.

Unlike conventional phosphorescent materials, which rely on surface pigments, BRG crystals emit light throughout their entire transparent structure, providing a new dimension to gemstone design.

Describing the process as "sculpting with light," Boons told IFLScience she is fascinated by how the crystal transforms between light and darkness.

"It has been fascinating to consider the creation of jewelry pieces that have an identity in both," she explained, emphasizing the unique versatility of her designs.

Boons' glowing crystal doesn't just look magical; it also behaves in an entirely unique way.

"The green-colored light and the way it transforms in the designs are mesmerizing to me as both a maker and wearer," Boons continued.

While the created jewels glow green, much the same way as radioactive material does as dramatized in Hollywood (it does not do this in reality), the hue likely stems from the specific elements incorporated into the crystal structure.

Sofie Boons

The BRG glowing bright green, showcasing the world's first glow-in-the-dark gemstone.

Europium, for instance, is known to emit green light when excited by certain wavelengths. The interaction between europium and other elements likely further helps alter the color and the way the light is emitted.

The crystal's glow changes over time, shifting subtly as the wearer moves, giving each piece of jewelry a dynamic, living quality. This interplay of light and movement has opened up new possibilities for jewelry design, where pieces take on entirely different identities depending on the environment.

Given the spectrum of light at play with various elements, the possibility of crafting crystals that emit colors beyond green seems promising. For instance, chromium plays a significant role in the vibrant reds of rubies and the greens of emeralds in nature.

By manipulating the combination of dopants during the crystal-growing process, researchers may be able to engineer crystals that glow in shades of blue, red, or even violet. The interplay of light and elemental chemistry holds vast potential for creating entirely new, visually stunning jewelry that could shift and transform through a spectrum of colors.

But for this early exploration into glowing gemstones, brilliant green is a strong and eye-catching start.

Among her earliest pieces with BRG is an octagon-shaped brooch that glows with an ethereal green light. Another design, featuring earrings and a pendant, explores the "pooling light" phenomenon, where the glow shifts and gathers across the surface as the wearer moves.

More incredible still, these mesmerizing designs aren't just confined to the workshop. Boons' creations have already been worn, showcasing their practical application in everyday life.

"Yes, the pieces have been worn, visibility of activated designs in the dark can currently last for 24 hours or more, with an intensity that slowly decreases over time," Boons shared. "As a designer, it has been fascinating to consider the creation of jewelry pieces that have an identity in the light and in the dark and explore new effects," she added.

This research marks the beginning of what Boons envisions as a new era for lab-grown crystals in both jewelry and other creative industries. With support from a Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Development Award at UWE, she plans to expand her explorations and collaborations, pushing the boundaries of what these materials can achieve.

"My research only marks the beginning of an exciting journey," she told IFLScience, expressing her hope that lab-grown crystals will soon become an essential part of sustainable and innovative design.

Her ultimate goal is to establish an artistic crystal growth hub where scientists and artists collaborate to develop new crystal materials, not only for gemstones but for pigments, glazes, and other ornamental applications.

In addition to her work with BRG crystals, Boons has also pioneered other groundbreaking projects. One of her notable achievements includes creating the first ruby ever grown from a "ruby seed" in a platinum ring, crafted using waste products from the industry and further showcasing her innovative approach to both jewelry design and sustainable practices.