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Hello, These are pictures of the equipment inside our factory in Shelby, Michigan.
In the background, the glowing glass bell-jar contains a Shelby Simulated Emerald. Paul H, the tech in the foreground is adjusting the power levels in furnace B.
These furnaces run 24 hrs/day for weeks at a time.


All those other companies and websites that talk about 'their factories'.
Why don't they ever show any pictures (or at least any pictures that actually show real equipment that could even possibly be used in gem growth)....there's a lot of 'pretend factories'. I laugh at some of their stupid pictures! Why don't they let you visit.....?
Could it be that they really don't have a factory?

We do! Visit us Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat 12-4, Closed Sundays!

Below is a picture of Larry Kelley (Founder & Owner) of Shelby Gem Factory,
looking at a 1,000kw (one Mega-Watt) furnace.
Usually we wear fire suits....this is just a 'quick' glance.
Notice the heat reflective coverings all around.
This is a prototype furnace for forming the Shelby Simulated Diamonds.
The front of the stand is covered with sealed asbestos sheeting.
Notice all the reflective coverings on the surrounding equipment.

















These are some of our earlier Gem furnaces.
The picture below was taken in 1971.



The furnaces were beautiful with the lights off!




Here is Tom H, removing a finished early Shelby Simulated Diamond from the furnace.
We are now on the 3rd rendition of Shelby Simulated Diamonds.
Each rendition has about 8-10 sub-renditions.
We keep improving our gems for you...our customers and our friends!



The crucibles we use for Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Garnet growth costs about $50,000.
The crucible is the little silver colored cup in the picture below.
The crucible for the Shelby Simulated Diamond is much more complicated.
They last for only a short time because of the 5,000ºF + temperatures.
Maybe the cost of the equipment in our factory is the reason we are the only company on Earth that makes so many different Man-Made Gems!!







Notice the leather arm covers on this man.....it's hot around growing gems!!





You can see the inside of the furnace cabinets glowing.

Shelby Simulated Diamonds are formed at over 5,000ºF !!




Raising a Simulated Emerald out of it's furnace.
It takes up to a month to form this crystal, and of course not all of them are gem quality....this one wasn't.....Darn it All!
While we can make Emeralds that are chemically identical to Nature's Emeralds, we choose not to.
Nature's Emeralds are fairly soft and prone to cracking and breaking.
Our Simulated Shelby Emeralds are about 40% harder than Nature's...which means our 'Emeralds' will last longer. They look just like a very good quality Natural Emerald, and because of the fact that they are much less expensive, lets you save your hard earned dollars when you purchase a better product from The Shelby Gem Factory.





This control panel is for controlling the growth of Rubies and Sapphires.



We have to use a welding glass to view the gems as they are forming.




Of course, just making the gems in the raw form isn't enough.
We have to facet them to bring out all the beauty locked inside.
This skill takes many years to master fully.




Then, after the gem is faceted, it's time to choose a piece of gold jewelry in which to place the finished gem.
Please realize that we make all the gems and all the jewelry we sell in our store.
All the work is done here in the USA...not India, China, etc......
We put US citizens to work and we are VERY proud of this!!