With crystal growing techniques having been around since the 19th century, man-made crystals now drive innovations in various industries. However, this has not fully translated into the jewellery industry, where efforts to de-value them have limited scientific interest. This website provides an overview of the PhD research conducted by Sofie Boons on the topic. Her thesis titled 'Neo-gemstones: An Alchemical Jeweller’s Exploration of Lab-grown Crystals and Related Technologies, Proposing Innovations Whilst Challenging Context, Terminology, and Underlying Assumptions' provides a historical and contemporary review exploring why innovations in man-made crystal materials within a jewellery context remain sparse. Furthermore, an investigation into the culture and context surrounding man-made crystals interrogated the differences between these crystals and their mined counterparts, with findings visualised through Critical Design.
'Neo-gemstone(s)®' is proposed as alternative terminology for labelling novel man-made crystal materials in response to the identified need for the re-framing and re-naming of enhanced and designed crystal materials when used in a contemporary jewellery context. 
This website documents the creative potential of incorporating lab-grown gemstones by reflecting on the three case studies and critical designs that were completed during the PhD project: