Natural Sapphire can only be found in the earth
Natural sapphires from certain frozen or metamorphic geological environments are usually treated to improve color or clarity. The most common process involves heat treatment to improve color. Synthetic sapphire has been produced for more than a century, mostly by melting, flux, or hydrothermal solution methods. All of these ingredients are often found in the jewelry trade.
The most important instrument in distinguishing synthetic sapphires from natural sapphires using a binocular microscope. Information collected from brief microscopic observations of unknown Sapphire gems is very important for accurate identification and is only known by gemologist experts themselves. There is no better reference for understanding the microscopic features of corundum than for Photoatlas three volumes of inclusion in a gemstone. Gemologists who try to understand many aspects of other sapphire gems, including physical property and information in many different places.
The choice of photomicrographs for this graph represents a variety of inclusions that might be encountered in Sapphire. Examples of inclusions that may very well indicate certain origins are provided, such as tourmaline crystals in sapphires from Kashmir, India. Other images highlight features that might be diagnostic for certain treatments. A case in point is "internal diffusion" seen in heat-treated sapphires, which are induced as titanium from the inclusion of rutile silk dissolved in a crystal lattice of master sapphire at high temperatures. This pair of titanium dissolved with iron to increase the amount of blue in the rock. Synthetic is also represented on the graph, with sapphire images growing by flux, fire fusion, hydrothermal, and other methods.
The most important instrument in distinguishing synthetic sapphires from natural sapphires using a binocular microscope. Information collected from brief microscopic observations of unknown Sapphire gems is very important for accurate identification and is only known by gemologist experts themselves. There is no better reference for understanding the microscopic features of corundum than for Photoatlas three volumes of inclusion in a gemstone. Gemologists who try to understand many aspects of other sapphire gems, including physical property and information in many different places.
The choice of photomicrographs for this graph represents a variety of inclusions that might be encountered in Sapphire. Examples of inclusions that may very well indicate certain origins are provided, such as tourmaline crystals in sapphires from Kashmir, India. Other images highlight features that might be diagnostic for certain treatments. A case in point is "internal diffusion" seen in heat-treated sapphires, which are induced as titanium from the inclusion of rutile silk dissolved in a crystal lattice of master sapphire at high temperatures. This pair of titanium dissolved with iron to increase the amount of blue in the rock. Synthetic is also represented on the graph, with sapphire images growing by flux, fire fusion, hydrothermal, and other methods.
|
Name of Gemstone: Sapphire
Chemical formula: Al2O3 Color: White, colorless, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, colorful Hardness: 9 Crystal system: Hexagonal Refractive index: 1.76-1.77 SG: 3.9-4.1 Transparency: Transparent to opaque Double Refraction: 0,0008 Luster: Vitreous for adamantine Cleavage: None, but may indicate separation Mineral Class: Corundum |
Natural sapphires have defects or inclusions in sapphires. To know the natural sapphire, look for inclusions, namely in the form of fibers or cracks like cracks in sapphires by shining a light or flashlight on the Sapphire. if the inclusion of the sapphire is found it means that the sapphire is natural. If the sapphire does not have inclusions, the sapphire is fake (synthetic).
Clarity is a reference to clarity in Sapphire. Where sapphire clarity can be assessed based on inclusion. Generally, inclusion makes Sapphire less valuable. Prices can drop substantially if the inclusion is very large and threatens the beauty of Sapphire. Even so, inclusion can actually increase the value of some sapphires. Many of the most valuable Kashmiri sapphires contain small inclusions that give them a velvety appearance. They spread light, causing the coveted visual effect without affecting the transparency of the gem negatively.
Sapphire is one of two types of corundum gemstones, the other is ruby (defined as a corundum in red). Although blue is the most famous sapphire color, but there are also other colors, such as sapphires yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, gray, black and also there are colorless sapphires, white sapphire.
Significant Sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China (Shandong), Madagascar, East Africa, and in North America in several locations, mostly in Montana. Sapphire and ruby are often found in the same geological setting.
Each sapphire mine produces a variety of sapphire qualities. For Kashmir sapphire is premium Sapphire (the best type of sapphire and has the highest quality). Although the best sapphires are also found in Burma and Sri Lanka. Genuine Sapphire prices have varied values depending on color, clarity, size, cut, and overall quality.
Clarity is a reference to clarity in Sapphire. Where sapphire clarity can be assessed based on inclusion. Generally, inclusion makes Sapphire less valuable. Prices can drop substantially if the inclusion is very large and threatens the beauty of Sapphire. Even so, inclusion can actually increase the value of some sapphires. Many of the most valuable Kashmiri sapphires contain small inclusions that give them a velvety appearance. They spread light, causing the coveted visual effect without affecting the transparency of the gem negatively.
Sapphire is one of two types of corundum gemstones, the other is ruby (defined as a corundum in red). Although blue is the most famous sapphire color, but there are also other colors, such as sapphires yellow, green, orange, purple, pink, gray, black and also there are colorless sapphires, white sapphire.
Significant Sapphire deposits are found in Eastern Australia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, China (Shandong), Madagascar, East Africa, and in North America in several locations, mostly in Montana. Sapphire and ruby are often found in the same geological setting.
Each sapphire mine produces a variety of sapphire qualities. For Kashmir sapphire is premium Sapphire (the best type of sapphire and has the highest quality). Although the best sapphires are also found in Burma and Sri Lanka. Genuine Sapphire prices have varied values depending on color, clarity, size, cut, and overall quality.
Natural Sapphire Kashmir
The type of inclusion is usually found in natural sapphires, namely:
Holes or holes that stretch from the surface of the gemstone to the interior.
Color Zoning - an alternating color area or ribbon in a gemstone.
Basin / Naturals - natural curves on the surface of gemstones made during crystal formation. This sign of growth is usually found in the corset and does not affect the beauty or luster of the gemstone.
Fur - a small inclusion that has a thin appearance of fur.
Fingerprint Inclusion - a network of small fluid tubes that resemble human fingerprints. Fingerprint inclusions form when the sapphire is crystallized to heal part of the fracture zone.
Crack - An oval or circular crack surrounding a solid or liquid inclusion. This is formed from stress due to radioactive decay of small zircon crystals or from the high temperatures required for heat treatment.
Including crystals - minerals that are light, dark, transparent or opaque trapped inside a gemstone. In sapphires, you can often find crystal hematite, zircon, spinel, calcite, and mica, for example.
Liquid Inclusion - fluid filled space in a gemstone.
Sutra - fine rutile needles that create drowsy transparency from some sapphires. Silk is also responsible for asterism in star sapphires. Not all sapphires contain silk. Silk is an example of inclusion which can actually add value to sapphire. In moderate amounts, highly reflective rutile needles scatter light into the cut sapphire, helping to illuminate the darker sides of the stone and increase its brightness.
Holes or holes that stretch from the surface of the gemstone to the interior.
Color Zoning - an alternating color area or ribbon in a gemstone.
Basin / Naturals - natural curves on the surface of gemstones made during crystal formation. This sign of growth is usually found in the corset and does not affect the beauty or luster of the gemstone.
Fur - a small inclusion that has a thin appearance of fur.
Fingerprint Inclusion - a network of small fluid tubes that resemble human fingerprints. Fingerprint inclusions form when the sapphire is crystallized to heal part of the fracture zone.
Crack - An oval or circular crack surrounding a solid or liquid inclusion. This is formed from stress due to radioactive decay of small zircon crystals or from the high temperatures required for heat treatment.
Including crystals - minerals that are light, dark, transparent or opaque trapped inside a gemstone. In sapphires, you can often find crystal hematite, zircon, spinel, calcite, and mica, for example.
Liquid Inclusion - fluid filled space in a gemstone.
Sutra - fine rutile needles that create drowsy transparency from some sapphires. Silk is also responsible for asterism in star sapphires. Not all sapphires contain silk. Silk is an example of inclusion which can actually add value to sapphire. In moderate amounts, highly reflective rutile needles scatter light into the cut sapphire, helping to illuminate the darker sides of the stone and increase its brightness.
