Natural Sapphires
Introduction to Sapphires
Most of us remember the beautiful sapphire rings both Princess Diana and Princess Anne received for their engagements. Being the birthstone for September, it symbolizes faithfulness and sincerity and is also the gift for a 5th and 45th wedding anniversary.
Sapphires are found in countries such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Brazil, Australia and many others even though most of the sapphires available for sale today are not the natural sapphires. The synthetic sapphires however can be breathtakingly lovely although they have been artificially enhanced through chemical treatments and high temperature heating to bring out the color and sparkle.
Buying Natural Sapphires
Natural sapphires are very rare and it’s very hard to distinguish between the natural and the synthetic stone unless you know exactly what to look for. Properly cut and polished sapphire can catch the light and sparkle just like a diamond. For the novice however, it is not easy to tell the difference between the two since the synthetic sapphires today are also enhanced to a very high degree that they look almost like the real thing.
Even natural Sapphires sometimes, have some inclusions in the stone. If the stone you hope to buy is flawless, you must think twice because only a lab created sapphire or a very rare and highly priced stone can be flawless these days. Furthermore, an artificial sapphire will have a blue that is very pure, just like blue glass.
By using a jeweler’s magnifying glass you should be able to check if the sapphire is natural or not. If you see any inclusion in the shape of bubbles, direct a beam of light on to the gem and if it does not go through the bubble, the sapphire is not genuine because in a natural stone the light should pass through the facets of the gem without interruption.
Fiber optic lighting is also a good method of testing sapphires. When the light shines through the gem, if it’s a synthetic stone, the color will glow with an artificial reddish hue whereas a natural sapphire will not have this abnormal shine inside the stone.
When you rub a natural sapphire between your palms, it will give a smooth, hard feel whereas a synthetic sapphire will feel rather waxy.
Even after conducting all these tests, you might not be able to distinguish the difference between the natural and artificial and your best course of action will be to ask the jeweler to examine the sapphire for you. By using special tools he will be able to tell you the difference.
Keep in mind that sapphires are not always blue. They are found in all the colors of the rainbow; and the very popular star sapphire which has six needles like rays that form a star inside the stone when held to the light.
When buying natural sapphires, the cut and clarity are the most important factors. A well cut sapphire will bring out the color and sparkle and can be cut according to the individual’s taste which can be oval, rounded, rectangular or even cushion shaped.
If you are planning to buy a quality natural sapphire, be ready to pay a large amount of money depending on the carats, color, clarity and cut. While absolutely flawless gems are exorbitantly high in price, a small inclusion or flaw can mean that your sapphire is indeed natural and not gone through any heat treatment. Always buy your natural sapphires from a trusted dealer and if buying online, make sure it’s an accredited site and check for its refund policy before you pay any money.