What is the difference between natural and artificial sapphire?

Among the large abundance of gems of amazing beauty, a noble sapphire occupies a special place. It attracts the attention of fans of jewelry in deep blue and the expressive brilliance of each face. Like many valuable and expensive things, sapphires are often forged. Cheaper counterparts or artificial substitutes are often given as precious natural stone. The article will discuss how to determine the natural stone at home.

Especially highly valued stones in the classic blue color. Saturation and shade can be varied. From bright blue to mysterious purple. Despite the fact that sapphire is called a stone the color of the sea and sky, in nature, this type of crystal may have different colors. There are the following options:

• yellow;
• transparent;
• light green;
• brown with a touch of orange.

It is difficult to verify the authenticity of the crystal, but it is possible, knowing certain tricks.

Kashmir stone is different from other samples velvety, cornflower-colored. Real crystals have the ability to split the sun's rays. This characteristic decorates the stone with a play of light and expressive brilliance.

It should be noted that there is no accurate external data and other indicators, due to which it is possible to distinguish artificial sapphire with absolute certainty from the stone created by nature. Due to this, the number of fakes is rapidly increasing, which is in the hands of fraudsters. Despite this, some characteristics of natural gems can be checked independently.

Even edges and sharp corners are considered indicators of natural origin. As for strength, the gem on this indicator can yield only to diamond. Damage to the surface of sapphire can be the same strong stone. In turn, the surface of the crystal can easily scratch the surface of a hard material. If you are sure that you are holding a natural gem in your hands, you can safely hold them by drawing a groove. It only hurts synthetic stone.

To create a gem in nature requires several millennia. Although laboratories for artificially growing stones create similar conditions, they are different from natural ones. This affects the quality of the product and its appearance. Natural stone characterizes heterogeneous structure. Also, the presence of inclusions. They can be viewed with a magnifying glass and bright light.

However, modern technologies allow you to create fakes without these shortcomings. Small inclusions can be seen even with the naked eye. They indicate the naturalness, but low quality of the stone.

Another method to find out the origin of a gem is to put sapphire in a container with monobromonaphthalene. The container should be put on a white sheet of paper, and next to the light source. Striped inclusions are a sign of a quality and natural product. Curved lines speak of a fake.

Of particular value are the stones, which are decorated with the inclusion in the form of a six-fingered star.This difference is called asterism. Even if the scammers managed to fake this effect, it is easy to determine. Turn the stone in the light. In the natural gem, the asterisk starts moving. If it stays in place - in your hands an artificial crystal.

One of the most common and practical methods to determine the quality of a stone is to evaluate its color. The difference between the natural gem is to preserve the color in different light conditions. That is why the product is evaluated in daylight and in artificial light. If you notice a difference in tones and saturation - this is a signal of a fake.

Many buyers who decide to please themselves or their loved ones with natural stone jewelry often forget about the most reliable way to check the quality and authenticity of the goods offered. It's about checking documents. Jewelry stores are in constant competition. This is an expensive business that not everyone can afford. Sellers must provide a certificate confirming the authenticity of stones and precious metals, upon request of the client. The document contains information about the nature of origin.

Outlets offering customers the highest quality products are certified for each gem. Also, the seller must tell about the additional processing of products. The procedure is carried out for a brighter color and color alignment.

Everyone knows that jewelry products are expensive, especially when it comes to valuable items. Top quality natural gems cannot be cheap. Of course, some synthetic samples can be expensive, especially when they are issued for natural stones. In this case, the main thing is not to spend a large amount on a fake.

If you want to accurately determine the quality of the crystal, use the services of a professional expert. The specialist will quickly and accurately determine the origin of the stone, and you will have no doubt. The work of a qualified master costs money, but these costs can not be compared with the cost of natural sapphire. In the event that you bought a fake in the store, you will be able to return it and get the money spent back in full.

On sale you can find various imitations of natural stone. Buyers offer the following options.

1. Fakes. As products from this group, ordinary glass is given. The material is processed and then put on the storefront. Determining a low quality product is simple. Such stones quickly heat up in the hands, and inside it is easy to see the bubbles.
2. Doublets This class of crystals consists of several layers, called doublets or triplets. The top layer of the gem is a natural sapphire, under it lies a cheap equivalent. Both synthetic options, and gems, more favorable at the price, are used. If you carefully consider the product under a magnifying glass, you can find the gluing.
3. Crystals grown in artificial conditions. Due to the high cost of natural crystals, rarity and the complex process of mining sapphires, artificially grown stones began to be in great demand. This method is considered the official and common method of obtaining stones. High-quality samples are very difficult to distinguish from natural gems.

How to distinguish a real sapphire from a fake, see below.