Post by Trade Coach on Aug 8, 2022 23:13:50 GMT 1
Lab Created Sapphire And Natural Sapphire: How Do You Detect The Difference?
It is very important that as an admirer or dealer in gemstones that you pay attention to what we are discussing in this article because there’s a lot of misinformation out there about lab created sapphire.
Is it real or fake? How come sometimes you can see a “lab created sapphire” for $50 and at another time or shop you see it for $500? Great questions! let us dive in.
What is sapphire?
Sapphire is a rare, beautiful, and highly durable gemstone that comes in a variety of colors. It measures a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it the hardest colored gemstone in the market for daily wear. And, it’s great for engagement rings too! This gemstone comes in all the colors of the rainbow, except red, which is its cousin, ruby. As you must have known from our previous discussions, Sapphire and Ruby are both part of the corundum family.
What is so special about sapphire?
Sapphire is durable, rare, super colorful, and has a royal bloodline. So, when you choose a sapphire for your engagement or everyday ring, you’re in a super special company. It’s not only a unique engagement ring of choice, but it also shows your partner how highly you think of them. Sapphire comes in a variety of tints, too, so you can find basically any Pantone color you are interested in!
Why are sapphires so popular?
They are popular because Sapphires have a rich history in engagement rings and they have stood the test of time. In fact, Napoleon gave a sapphire engagement ring to his bride, Josephine, back in 1796. And, the gem remains in gorgeous condition till today. So, sapphires are popular for their history, their rarity, and also their longevity.
What Is Lab Created Sapphire?
Lab created sapphire means a sapphire gem that was grown in a lab, as compared with those mined from the ground. High quality lab created sapphires have the exact same chemical, mineral, and optical properties as natural stones. They are both aluminum oxide! One is just made by science, and the other made by nature. So, a high quality natural blue sapphire with excellent cutting will look basically identical to a high quality lab created sapphire with excellent cutting.
How are these lab-created gemstones made?
Scientists grow lab sapphire through flux or flame fusion method. A flux lab sapphire involves dissolving elements and letting time bring them together into a crystal. This is much like those crystals made in the earth by nature! In fact, some lab sapphires grow for over a year. The flux method is sustainable, eco-friendly, and makes stones that look natural. Flux stones are a bit more expensive, but are worth the investment.
On the other hand, flame fusion lab sapphires are made in just an hour from powdered elements. These stones do not have the same structure as natural or flux grown stones. Instead, their crystal structure is curved, and not angular. They are also curiously flawless, unlike natural sapphire. As a result, flame fusion sapphires do not have the same appearance as natural stones.
Does lab created sapphire mean fake?
No. True lab sapphire has the same mineral makeup as natural sapphire and is “real” sapphire. Flux grown lab sapphire, is visually identical to high quality natural sapphire. In fact, it requires a gemologist to distinguish between the two!
Lab Created Sapphire vs Natural Sapphire:
What is the difference between a real natural sapphire and a lab created sapphire?
Scientists create Lab sapphire, whereas the earth makes natural sapphire. In addition, natural sapphire comes in more colors and clarities than lab sapphire. For example, lab blue sapphire will always be a pure blue, without tint. On the other hand, natural sapphire can also be greenish blue or violet blue. And labs created sapphires are often flawless, whereas natural sapphires often have microscopic flaws (“inclusions”).
How can you tell if a gem is lab created?
Only a gemologist can tell the difference between high quality lab-created sapphire and natural sapphire. Microscopic visual cues a gemologist may use to distinguish lab created sapphire from natural sapphire include locating bubbles, curved striae, or flux inclusions. Lower quality “flame fusion” lab sapphire glows red under black light.
How can you tell a natural sapphire?
Gemologists can separate natural sapphire from lab sapphire by finding natural inclusions such as color zoning, fingerprints, or crystal inclusions. However, as natural fingerprints and high quality lab flux inclusions can often be very difficult to tell apart, a professional is needed! Color can also be used. For example, if the sapphire has a unique tint, odds are it is natural. Lab created sapphire come in pure colors.
Follow us as we bring more on gemstones in due course.
Our company is one of the best companies in Agro-Export Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
It is very important that as an admirer or dealer in gemstones that you pay attention to what we are discussing in this article because there’s a lot of misinformation out there about lab created sapphire.
Is it real or fake? How come sometimes you can see a “lab created sapphire” for $50 and at another time or shop you see it for $500? Great questions! let us dive in.
What is sapphire?
Sapphire is a rare, beautiful, and highly durable gemstone that comes in a variety of colors. It measures a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it the hardest colored gemstone in the market for daily wear. And, it’s great for engagement rings too! This gemstone comes in all the colors of the rainbow, except red, which is its cousin, ruby. As you must have known from our previous discussions, Sapphire and Ruby are both part of the corundum family.
What is so special about sapphire?
Sapphire is durable, rare, super colorful, and has a royal bloodline. So, when you choose a sapphire for your engagement or everyday ring, you’re in a super special company. It’s not only a unique engagement ring of choice, but it also shows your partner how highly you think of them. Sapphire comes in a variety of tints, too, so you can find basically any Pantone color you are interested in!
Why are sapphires so popular?
They are popular because Sapphires have a rich history in engagement rings and they have stood the test of time. In fact, Napoleon gave a sapphire engagement ring to his bride, Josephine, back in 1796. And, the gem remains in gorgeous condition till today. So, sapphires are popular for their history, their rarity, and also their longevity.
What Is Lab Created Sapphire?
Lab created sapphire means a sapphire gem that was grown in a lab, as compared with those mined from the ground. High quality lab created sapphires have the exact same chemical, mineral, and optical properties as natural stones. They are both aluminum oxide! One is just made by science, and the other made by nature. So, a high quality natural blue sapphire with excellent cutting will look basically identical to a high quality lab created sapphire with excellent cutting.
How are these lab-created gemstones made?
Scientists grow lab sapphire through flux or flame fusion method. A flux lab sapphire involves dissolving elements and letting time bring them together into a crystal. This is much like those crystals made in the earth by nature! In fact, some lab sapphires grow for over a year. The flux method is sustainable, eco-friendly, and makes stones that look natural. Flux stones are a bit more expensive, but are worth the investment.
On the other hand, flame fusion lab sapphires are made in just an hour from powdered elements. These stones do not have the same structure as natural or flux grown stones. Instead, their crystal structure is curved, and not angular. They are also curiously flawless, unlike natural sapphire. As a result, flame fusion sapphires do not have the same appearance as natural stones.
Does lab created sapphire mean fake?
No. True lab sapphire has the same mineral makeup as natural sapphire and is “real” sapphire. Flux grown lab sapphire, is visually identical to high quality natural sapphire. In fact, it requires a gemologist to distinguish between the two!
Lab Created Sapphire vs Natural Sapphire:
What is the difference between a real natural sapphire and a lab created sapphire?
Scientists create Lab sapphire, whereas the earth makes natural sapphire. In addition, natural sapphire comes in more colors and clarities than lab sapphire. For example, lab blue sapphire will always be a pure blue, without tint. On the other hand, natural sapphire can also be greenish blue or violet blue. And labs created sapphires are often flawless, whereas natural sapphires often have microscopic flaws (“inclusions”).
How can you tell if a gem is lab created?
Only a gemologist can tell the difference between high quality lab-created sapphire and natural sapphire. Microscopic visual cues a gemologist may use to distinguish lab created sapphire from natural sapphire include locating bubbles, curved striae, or flux inclusions. Lower quality “flame fusion” lab sapphire glows red under black light.
How can you tell a natural sapphire?
Gemologists can separate natural sapphire from lab sapphire by finding natural inclusions such as color zoning, fingerprints, or crystal inclusions. However, as natural fingerprints and high quality lab flux inclusions can often be very difficult to tell apart, a professional is needed! Color can also be used. For example, if the sapphire has a unique tint, odds are it is natural. Lab created sapphire come in pure colors.
Follow us as we bring more on gemstones in due course.
Our company is one of the best companies in Agro-Export Business in Nigeria today, we train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.