Sapphire is a treasure trove for jewelry lovers, and because imitations exist, we'll look at how to recognize a sapphire. From the most uncertain to the most reliable methods. We'll also discuss quality assessment.
How to recognize a real sapphire?
A real sapphire can be confused with a synthetic sapphire. A blue sapphire may resemble other stones. Sapphire is a very popular stone, especially on marriage proposal rings.
A gemologist can sometimes recognize a genuine sapphire of a spinel blue or a tanzanite, but to the naked eye, this can be confusing. Further expertise is often required. Tanzanite and blue spinel resemble sapphire, but their compositions are very different.
Sapphire comes in different colors, which are also prone to confusion with other stones. It can be difficult to recognize a pink sapphire of a pink spinel, exhibiting similar clarity and brilliance.
Sometimes, a real sapphire is distinguished from a synthetic sapphire when it has slight imperfections, while the fake sapphire has none. Lab-grown sapphires are created to be flawless. But be careful, natural sapphires do not have imperfections visible to the naked eye.
The most reliable way to recognize a sapphire is to ask for a gemstone appraisal to a professional and obtain a certificate of authenticity, if it is a real gem.
How to recognize a synthetic sapphire?
Synthetic sapphires are plentiful, but watchmaking professionals use them. methods to recognize a synthetic sapphire are generally unreliable. This is the case with the fog test. You can, however, blow on a stone. The fog may slowly disappear, which tends to indicate a fake sapphire.
Another (random) method: you could turn off the light and use a small lamp. The light emitted by some synthetic sapphires is suspect.
Finally, real sapphires of good quality do not have air bubbles and fakes may have them, but not always or not visible to the naked eye…
Note that nothing beats a microscope and spectroscopy. Maison Bonnot offers its services of gemologist in Angers.
How to recognize the quality of a sapphire?
A good 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 with treatments that denature the stones. In addition, a good sapphire has no inclusions visible to the naked eye, in any case, the majority of the highest quality sapphires used in jewelry. The purity or clarity of a sapphire depends a lot on the inclusions and the most sought-after sapphires, such as the Ceylon sapphire, are particularly pure. If there are inclusions, the stone remains transparent.
The color of a quality sapphire is intense and uniform. Colors can vary depending on the origin of the sapphires, but some regions of the world produce sapphires of different shades. For example, the royal blue Burmese sapphire is highly prized, but Burma produces different sapphires. Recognizing a gemstone It's not obvious, 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 coveted. However, sapphires that are too pale are not sought after in jewelry/jewelry.
- The price of a blue sapphire varies depending on its quality and carat weight. Like a diamond, quality is assessed using the four Cs—carat, cut, clarity, and color—to determine a price. Most often, a small, excellent-quality blue sapphire costs more than a larger, lesser-quality blue sapphire.
- The best way to avoid getting scammed: buy a blue or other color sapphire 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?
