Sapphire is a treasure for jewelry enthusiasts, and because there are imitations, we will look at how to identify a sapphire. From uncertain methods to the most reliable ones. We will also discuss quality assessment.
How to recognize a real sapphire?
A real sapphire can be mistaken for a synthetic sapphire. A blue sapphire can resemble other stones. Sapphire is a very popular stone, especially for engagement rings.
A gemologist can sometimes identify an authentic sapphire from a blue spinel or a tanzanite, but to the naked eye, this can be confusing. A more in-depth analysis is often necessary. Tanzanite and blue spinel resemble sapphire, but their compositions are very different.
Sapphire comes in different colors, which can also be confused with other stones.It can be particularly difficult to distinguish a pink sapphire from a pink spinel, as they display similar clarity and brilliance.
Sometimes, a real sapphire can be distinguished from a synthetic sapphire when it shows slight imperfections, whereas the fake sapphire has none. Lab-created sapphires are made to be flawless. However, be aware that some natural sapphires do not have imperfections visible to the naked eye.
The most reliable way to identify a sapphire is to request a gemstone appraisal from a professional and obtain a certificate of authenticity if it is a genuine gem.
How to recognize a synthetic sapphire?
Synthetic sapphires are numerous, but watchmaking professionals use them. The methods for identifying a synthetic sapphire are generally unreliable. This is the case with the fog test.You can, however, breathe on a stone. The fog may disappear slowly, which tends to indicate a fake sapphire.
Another method (random): you could turn off the light and use a small lamp. The light emitted by some synthetic sapphires is suspicious.
Finally, high-quality genuine sapphires do not have air bubbles, and fakes may have some, but not always or not visible to the naked eye…
Note that nothing beats a microscope and spectroscopy. Maison Bonnot offers its gemologist services in Angers.
How to recognize the quality of a sapphire?
A high-quality sapphire can be a heated sapphire, but not necessarily a treated sapphire. Heating is a widespread traditional process, considered normal, which is not the case for treatments that alter the stones.Moreover, a good sapphire has no inclusion visible to the naked eye, at least, the majority of the highest quality sapphires used in jewelry. The purity or clarity of a sapphire depends greatly on the inclusions, and the most sought-after sapphires, such as the Ceylon sapphire, are particularly pure. If inclusions are present, the stone remains transparent.
The color of a quality sapphire is intense and homogeneous.Colors may vary depending on the origin of the sapphires, but certain regions of the world produce sapphires in different shades. For example, the royal blue Burmese sapphire is highly prized, but Burma produces different sapphires.Recognizing a precious stone is not easy, but this type of clue is sometimes very useful.
Also read on our site: how to recognize a ruby.
How to recognize a blue sapphire?
- Not all dark blue sapphires are the most expensive or the most sought after. However, sapphires that are too pale are not in demand in jewelry.
- The price of a blue sapphire varies according to quality and carat weight. Like a diamond, quality is assessed using the 4Cs: carat, cut, clarity, and color, to determine a price. Most of the time, a small blue sapphire of excellent quality is more expensive than a larger blue sapphire of lower quality.
- The best way to avoid being scammed: buy a blue sapphire or one of another color with a laboratory certificate from a trusted seller, who will be able to provide you with all the crucial information!
Also read:
• How to care for a sapphire?
