Meet The Author – Thomas Chatham

In this unique online event, Mr Thomas Chatham, Chairman of the Board at Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, Inc. will speak with Anita Matharu, Manager of Gem-A Instruments shop, about his latest book, his career and a family business that has significantly influenced the gem & diamond industry.

Tom Chatham continues his father’s brilliant legacy today and his book, ‘The Chatham Legacy’, is a loving, humorous, detailed account of his father’s life-long work, and the Chatham brand. ‘The Chatham Legacy’ is the complete, behind the scenes story of the American family who pioneered the modern day gemstone industry. It is not only an enjoyable read, but one you will not want to put down.

The book is about the pioneering efforts of Carroll Chatham in his discovery of how to grow emerald crystals on a commercial basis in his San Francisco laboratory. The story begins with his father, born in 1862, then Carroll’s birth in 1914 and his adventures in chemistry. In 1935 he grew his first emerald. His son, the author, joined Carroll at Chatham Research Laboratories in 1965. The company went on to produce ruby, sapphires of many colours, alexandrite and finally diamond in 1993.

The book has extensive photos never before published and a rare glimpse into the methods used in their crystal growing lab.