How to distinguish natural from artificial sapphire

To distinguish natural from artificial sapphire uninitiated in the intricacies of production and finishing man can be difficult. However, there are certain characteristics common to natural stones that can identify even the inexperienced buyer. But if you are planning to purchase expensive jewelry, then it is better to buy show product specialist.

Sapphire is a precious stone, whose color ranges from colorless to purple, and only rare natural stone will not change its color under artificial lighting. Therefore, the stone need to look at first in daylight and then in the light of conventional lamps. Natural stone will change its color. Real Kashmir sapphire has a velvety cornflower blue shade. Burmese gemstones and Ceylon gems differ so-called "silk". We are talking about the needle-like fibers that intersect, form an angle of 60°. And it can be seen that if the arm with magnifying glass.

Now look closely at the stone for inclusions and gas bubbles. Artificial stone, as a rule, more handsome, has a uniform structure with the admixture of gas bubbles. Natural sapphire little susceptible to defects, but at the same time, it found a notable inclusion.

But the market often and composite stones consisting of two or more parts, or doublets. In the upper part of this product may be a real sapphire, and in the lower cheap artificial or natural stone. Take a look at the stone through a magnifying glass: it can detect the connection line into two parts.

Sapphire is very easy to confuse tanzanite and blue spinel. To avoid this, you need to arm yourself with a special device for measurement of light refraction – Refractometer. Tanzanite has a refractive index of 1.7, spinel – 1,72, and that's a real sapphire has a much larger figure – 1,76-1,77. Besides blue spinel is too dark a color and it can be confused only with the low quality sapphire, and tanzanite have a slight reddish tinge.

To distinguish natural from artificial sapphire will help the hardness of natural stone. He's just one unit behind the diamond, so the edges of the stone are sharp and smooth. And if you spend on natural stone than solid, its surface will not be over. It is desirable to use stone with a hardness of 8.5 on a scale of moss. High-quality natural sapphire can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars per carat, and when you purchase you are obliged to issue a certificate for the stone.