Chris asks…
What are the main differences between man made sapphires and natural ones?
I am looking into getting a loose sapphire gemstone - round cut and about 1 to 1.5 carats. It is more important to me to get the size and COLOR I want than the prestige of it being "natural." I don't have a large budget for the stone (only a couple hundred dollars at most), which is the main reason why I can't just go out and buy a dark blue natural sapphire. My question is what are the major differences between natural and man made sapphires (besides price) - what are the pros and cons of both. I am worried about one being more breakable than the other or less scratch resistant or something. Also, does anyone know if some good websites for sapphires? I have a large list of web sites that sell natural ones, but I haven't found any web sites that sell man made ones (are man made sapphires called something special? - and please don't be a smartass and say "colored crystal" or "cubic zirconium".
Thank you!
I meant zirconia, sorry - typo during the spell check
Or would a man made/lab sapphire just be a simple cubic zirconia???
admin answers:
Synthetic sapphires are lab-created either by flame fusion method or flux-melt method or less commonly, by hydrothermal method. They have the same physical, optical and chemical properties as natural sapphires. Some lab-created sapphires may be included, although most are clean. Since they have the same properties as naturals, they will not scratch or chip more easily than a natural stone.
Prices of synthetic sapphires depend on the method of synthesis used. In general, FF sapphires are mouch more affordable than FM sapphires. (Depending on the quality and color, FF's can cost as little as a few cents a carat and FM's can cost over a hundred a carat.) I found a 3ct sapphire (allegedly hydrothermal) on ebay for 0.99cts!
As a gemstone enthusiast and a gemologist, my advice is to buy natural! There is just NO comparison. Why buy a cold, clinical man-made substitute when you can own a rare stone made by mother earth and enjoy all the romance, mystery and adventure that comes with it?
Good blue sapphires are a pure saturated blue or violet-blue with a even tone. If clean and well-cut, these will fetch a premium in the market and can cost a bomb! However, lighter blue sapphires can be just as lovely, can be lively and clean, and best of all - will fit into your budget quite nicely.
BTW, natural sapphires aren't just blue! They come in almost every color of the rainbow. If a good stone in the blue variety is beyond your budget, why not opt for an equally pretty pink, orange, yellow, purple or violet? There is even a rare color-changing variety!
Of course, if you want a synthetic sapphire here a a few examples:
