large Synthetic Quartz (ex Bell Labs & Van Tichelen Coll.)

Item Description

Amazing and rare large 360-degree synthetic, lab-made gem quartz crystal used for the telecommunications industry. This important technology was developed by Bell Labs of New Jersey during the late 1940s to 1956, when production began. This striking water-clear gem crystal has two stunning scalloped faces, a fabulous water-clear face and an interestingly modified face with both water-clear and frosted striated areas. Metal pins at the ends held the natural quartz seed plate (thin line visible in the center of the crystal) used to start the crystal and connect it to electrodes. Wonderfully pristine. Ex Wouter van Tichelen Collection and comes with a 29.8 x 21.0 cm glossy photo of two sides of the crystal and a same size and style sheet with a more in-depth description of the technology and history of the important specimen. See: https://www.mineralauctions.com/items/synthetic-quartz-ex-bell-telephone-laboratories-1-167-grams-75971, if you can't read the sheet. 1142 grams or 2.5 pounds mass. RARE in this quality and size. Valued at $3000+. We have had some of these in the past, in much smaller sizes , and 250-350 gram pieces have regularly sold for good money. This is the largest we have offered from old collections as they turn up.