White sapphires come in two forms: natural and created. Natural white sapphires are 100% natural, consisting of corundum that naturally formed with the colorless properties common to white sapphires. On the other hand, created white sapphires are essentially white corundum that was dyed or bleached to become colorless before being made into jewelry or other fashion accessories. While natural white sapphires have been prized gemstones since ancient times, today’s market has expanded to include created white sapphires as well.
Understanding Gemstone Grading
When it comes to gemstones, there are three quality factors that affect the price: carat weight, clarity, and color. Here, we’re going to focus on color. In general, the rarer the color, the more expensive the stone. However, not all rare colors are created equal. For example, natural pink tourmaline is very rare, but created white sapphire is even more so. There are only two naturally occurring varieties of colored sapphires: blue and green. Blue sapphire can be found in just about any type of deposit, while a green one is found only in a few locations in Australia (such as Rubyvale). In contrast, there are many types of tourmalines; for instance, pink tourmaline is usually quite inexpensive because it’s relatively common.
Identifying Real Sapphires
Sapphires come in many colors, but the most valuable and rare are blue. Natural blue sapphires are found in only a few places around the world, including Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Australia. Most of the sapphires on the market today are created in laboratories. Created white sapphires have the same chemical composition as natural ones, but they are grown in controlled conditions. The easiest way to tell if a white sapphire is created or natural is by its color. Natural pink tourmaline will have subtle variations in hue, while created white sapphires will be a uniform color. A second test is to scratch the stone with your fingernail. A natural sapphire will scratch, while a created white sapphire won’t because it’s made of high-quality glass.
The Four C’s Of Color
A white sapphire can be distinguished from a natural pink tourmaline by its color. Sapphires are graded on the Four C’s of Color: carat, clarity, color, and cut. If the sapphire is less than one carat, it is most likely man-made. The sapphire has inclusions, it is also likely man-made. If the sapphire is an intense blue color, it is natural. If the sapphire has been cut into a standard shape like round or oval, it is most likely man-made. However, sapphires may have irregular shapes as well which may mean that they are natural.
If you’re unsure about the authenticity of your white sapphire, take it to a jeweler for inspection.
Crushing Sapphires
Sapphires are one of the hardest minerals on earth, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale. This means that sapphires are very difficult to scratch and chip. However, they can be crushed. Sapphires are often found in metamorphic rocks, which are rocks that have been changed by heat and pressure. The pressure from the weight of the overlying rock can cause the sapphire to break or deform.
