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Are colored sapphires precious? What is hydrothermal sapphire: properties, differences from natural, is it worth choosing

Natural sapphire is not just a beautiful gem, but also a strong amulet that attracts positive energy. This stone was a favorite of the representatives of the royal dynasty and adorned the rings, bracelets and crowns of kings.

This mineral, a variety of corundum, is considered one of the four most expensive stones in the world.

What does a sapphire look like? Sapphire is a hard mineral with unique transparency and many color shades.

Characteristics of the stone: glass luster, density - 4 g / cm3, hardness - 9.

What does sapphire mean? In Greek, sapphire means " blue stone».

What are magical properties this stone? This mineral is called the stone of the soul, it helps to restore peace of mind and achieve success in many areas of life. The magical properties of corundum depend on its color.

What is the significance of sapphire for a person? For women, corundum will not only become an expensive decoration, but will also help to feel their feminine power, a man will feel a surge of strength and energy and will achieve great success in life.

Who suits the zodiac sign: compatibility in astrology

This stone is patronized by the planet Jupiter, which is why it has a positive effect on a person. But corundum is categorically not recommended for those who were born under the Capricorn zodiac sign.

Who does he fit according to the horoscope? Sapphire has the most favorable effect on Sagittarius. A man born according to this sign, the stone will help to become influential and successful. In a Sagittarius woman, she emphasizes beauty and feminine strength.

How does sapphire affect other signs of the zodiac:

Emotional Aries sapphire will help to become less quick-tempered.
The gem is suitable for Taurus in cases where he is going to make some important decision.
Gemini under the influence of corundum will find true friends.
Representatives of the zodiac sign Cancer will feel the full power of the healing properties of sapphire.
Lions wearing this mineral will find spiritual harmony and balance.
Virgo stone will help to become more open and sociable.
For Libra, corundum will become a talisman against negative energy.
He will help Scorpions achieve success in love affairs.
Aquarius, the gem will give self-confidence.
Pisces mineral will help to avoid trouble and succeed in any endeavor.

What color and how it looks: varieties of stone

In nature, you can find the following varieties of sapphire:

Stone color	Description
Blue	Blue sapphire is an excellent talisman for good luck in all matters: both love and financial. This stone is a symbol of sobriety of mind, craving for new discoveries. Blue corundum is often used by clairvoyants in their practice, as it helps to see the future. The mineral calms, balances, puts thoughts and feelings in order. It will become a good mascot for people looking for themselves.
Yellow	Yellow sapphire is considered rare. This mineral is one of the most powerful amulets. The yellow gem will bring well-being and prosperity to its owner. It will protect from the evil eye and damage, relieve anxiety and depression. The stone is charged with positive energy, which affects the character of a person. Under its influence, a person can become more kind, balanced and self-confident. Yellow corundum helps creative individuals find inspiration, especially during times of crisis. This mineral scares away evil and envious people from its owner. Yellow corundum also has a positive effect on the atmosphere in the house. With his appearance in the family comes love and understanding. Despite the positive energy of the stone, it is not recommended to carry it with you all the time, it can cause anxiety. This is due to the fact that yellow corundum absorbs negative energy, and it must be periodically cleaned so that all the negativity does not pass to the owner of the stone. It is believed that yellow corundum with defects carries negative energy.
Green	Green corundum makes a person more responsive and understanding. Such a stone is ideal for a delicate female nature. It creates a favorable atmosphere in the house. If there are frequent scandals in the family, carry green corundum with you and the situation in the house will return to normal.
star black	Black sapphire is a strong amulet against dark forces. It will help its owner get out of depression, restore self-confidence and a positive attitude.
White	There are practically no metal impurities in the white mineral, it is transparent in its own way. appearance, and it can even be confused with a diamond. White corundum will become a talisman for those who want to find peace of mind. Jewelry with white sapphire is a wonderful amulet gift for a loved one.
Blue	There are no pure blue sapphires in nature, usually blue is called corundum, which has a share of other shades of no more than 15%. This stone is considered "fancy" and usually has a double name, such as blue-green. Species blue sapphire enough.

How much: price

How much does a sapphire item cost? The price of jewelry depends on many factors: the shade of the mineral, its size, transparency and purity, the presence of a gem cut, origin and weight.

On average, the price of corundum weighing one carat varies from 20 to several thousand dollars.

Products and decorations made of stone and its application

What is the use of sapphire? Sapphire is one of the most fashionable stones in the collections of famous jewelry manufacturers. Jewelry with sapphire is combined with any outfit, but will look especially impressive with evening option.

Corundum is used in the manufacture of pendants, pendants, beads, earrings, brooches, belts and other jewelry.

Medicinal properties

It is impossible not to mention medicinal properties this mineral. Corundum will help to cure not only the soul, but also the body.

The stone has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, has a good effect on visual acuity, treats female diseases, improves immunity and helps eliminate muscle problems.

Not only the mineral itself has a healing effect, but also the water infused on it. It can treat wounds and diseased areas of the body.

How to distinguish a fake: authenticity check

The natural raw mineral has a heterogeneous structure, which is visible in strong light. It retains this property even after processing. It is quite difficult to distinguish corundum from a fake on your own.

If in doubt that you have a real sapphire in your hands, contact a specialist. With the help of a special composition, he will be able to determine the authenticity of the stone.

Mineral deposits

The deposits of this mineral are about. Sri Lanka and about. Madagascar, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Tanzania, USA, Kenya and others. One fourth of all sapphires are mined from Australia.

Care and storage

Sapphire jewelry should be cleaned regularly with a soft brush. You can refresh the stone by wiping it with a solution of ammonia (5 milliliters per glass of water). Sapphire also cleans well with a solution of soda, bleach and soda.

After cleaning, corundum must be wiped. Despite the fact that the mineral is very hard, it is worth storing the jewelry carefully, if possible in a cloth bag.

Useful video

The reason for the creation of hydrothermal sapphires

A natural gemstone of a rare blue color in nature is quite expensive, and therefore the issue of developing an analogue has been on the agenda of jewelers for a long time. We can say that along with the price, the reason for the synthesis of such a mineral is its rare color. In order to receive blue shades dyeing and heating to very high temperatures is applied. As a result, there are now many synthetic stones on the jewelry market, created to meet the great demand for inexpensive analogues of blue minerals.

Similarity to natural sapphires

Hydrothermal sapphires are made from corundum. Another name for this mineral growing method is nano sapphire. (Often on the labels you can find the name of the insert "corundum" and, depending on the color, it will be synthetic sapphire - blue or ruby - red).
Both natural and hydrothermal minerals have the same chemical formula - it is aluminum oxide - Al2O3 (corundum).
They have the same hardness on the Mohs scale, 9 out of 10 points.
The same properties in terms of the fragility of the mineral, which causes difficulties in its jewelry processing.

How to distinguish natural sapphire from artificial?

It is not customary to give out in the jewelry market artificial stones for natural. Therefore, when choosing jewelry, you need to be careful and know what is inserted in it - a natural gem or an artificially grown mineral?

The most basic difference lies in the origin of the mineral. Natural, as the name implies, is found and extracted from nature (it was formed in difficult conditions over many years). Synthetic or hydrothermal is obtained in the laboratory in a short period of time (grown in 2-3 weeks).
To create a hydrothermal mineral, all the same chemical components are used as in the natural, and similar conditions - high temperature and pressure.
The mineral grown in laboratory conditions is of higher quality, it does not have impurities that are possible in natural conditions, and also, due to constant monitoring of the process, the crystal is cleaner, without cracks and air bubbles.
Synthetic has a more durable color than natural. It is not affected by UV rays, so it can be worn around the clock.
The difference in price is probably the most important thing. With equal characteristics, it will be about 10 times. That is, if a natural sapphire has a cost of $400, its hydrothermal "brother" of the same size will cost only $40.

Diffusion and degraded sapphire

Diffusion is a chemical-physical process of penetration of the molecules of a substance into the molecules of another substance. Diffusion is used as a method for refining precious stones, including for refining fancy types of sapphire.

Fantasy sapphire - any kind except blue.

In order to ennoble star sapphire, diffusion with beryllium salts is used. As a result of heating and creating high pressure, beryllium salts penetrate into it in such a way that they "impregnate" the stone through and through. The effect of asterism is noticeably enhanced.
Methods for the diffusion refinement of sapphires can be of two main types: "impregnation" of the outer layer of corundum, when the true color becomes invisible under it, and "internal" diffusion, when high temperature internal inclusions in corundum, such as titanium and chromium, dissolve and color the mineral.
In any case, the refinement of corundum by diffusion methods is legal if after that the gem is not passed off as natural, but it is honestly indicated that these manipulations were carried out with it. Otherwise, it will be misleading or deceiving the consumer.
Declassed should not be confused with diffusion or synthetic. Such a gem is natural, but of low quality. So, it is cloudy and/or opaque. Quality characteristics, of course, affect its price, although it may be more expensive than synthetic. The label usually says "decl", which means "declassed".

Artificial sapphire - what to look for when choosing?

If you decide to purchase jewelry with just such an insert, then it remains only to decide on the color and cut. The artistic component will play a big role in the price, therefore, the choice should be based primarily on it. The most expensive are the types of cutting of transparent stones, revealing their beauty and making you admire the play of light created by the facets.
In jewelry stores, it is not customary to pass off any other materials as hydrothermal. In workshops that make expensive jewelry to order - even more so. And of course, you should not buy jewelry from your hands or in dubious places, where instead of a synthetic (not to mention natural) mineral, inserts of glass or similar material can be sold.

Designations on jewelry tags

First of all, we note that the designations on jewelry tags refer to precious stones of natural origin. The first digit indicates the number of stones in the product, 1, 2, etc. Then the name of the stone is abbreviated. For example, Sp., means sapphire and that the stone is natural, natural. Sp.ob. - means diffusion or ennobled. Also, manufacturers "sin" by indicating Sp. box - that is, corundum, which means that the product contains a hydrothermal mineral. Further, the shape of the cut is indicated on the tag - for example, Gr - pear, Kv - square, Tk - triangle. Then come the digital characteristics of the gem - weight, color, clarity.

Hydrothermal, like all synthetic minerals, do not (and cannot) have digital color and purity characteristics on jewelry tags that are inherent in natural ones!

If there is an abbreviation "about." or "kor." - Synthetic mineral. How to distinguish a sapphire from a fake - see the answer to this question.

Sapphire is a stone that has adorned the symbols of royal power since ancient times and was endowed with many mystical properties. It belongs to the group of precious stones mined from hard rocks, and for many centuries conquers people with its unique beauty. Many people ask if this stone is precious or semi-precious. Along with natural emerald and ruby, the generally accepted classification, of course, classifies it among the precious gems, the cost of which is often considerable.

Story

The origin of the name of these stones is still disputed. According to some historians, the word "sapphire" comes from the language of ancient Babylon from "spiru", which means "scratching". It is the hardness of sapphire, most likely, that became the reason for such a name. Another, more poetic version, traces the origin of the word to the ancient Indian language, to the word "caniprya" (beloved by Saturn). In Hellas "sappheiros" was the name for all precious stones. dark blue. There are other names of sapphires in history. So, until the 19th century in Russia they were called azure yahonts, lapis lazuli.

The most famous sapphire jewels, adorned with large and pure stones, belong to the ruling dynasties of Europe and Asia. The brooch, which belonged to an Indian maharajah, was made from a 4,000 carat gem. The orb of the Russian emperors is adorned with a half-sized stone. Since ancient times, the sapphire gemstone means the direct relationship of its owner to power and control. big amount of people.

A large blue stone of 167 carats, cut into the shape of a rose, adorns the crown of the British Empire. The cut of sapphires can be different. For example, another world-famous jewel belonging to the English royal family is the engagement ring of Princess Diana, which is now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, nee Kate Middleton. The ring is set with an oval Ceylon corundum surrounded by diamonds. By the way, sapphires were generally one of the favorite stones of Lady Dee, who adored all shades of dark blue.

The collection of the Orange dynasty, ruling in the Netherlands, included parure, which included massive jewelry trimmed with sapphires and diamonds. Now many of the decorations from this set have been redesigned into more modern ones.

The tradition of decorating the jewels of rulers with corundum comes from ancient times. According to legend, these beautiful stones were inserted into the crown of Cleopatra herself.

Characteristics

Now all corundums are called sapphires, with the exception of those that have a red color (rubies). From the point of view of chemistry, the description of the stone is as follows: sapphire is a mineral almost entirely composed of aluminum oxide. It has a glassy luster and one of the highest strength ratings on the Mohs scale (the table indicates a number of 9 points). Only is considered a harder mineral. Clarity and clarity of sapphire may vary. There are both transparent stones, different in purity, and absolutely opaque gems.

Some corundums are characterized by such a phenomenon as asterism - the appearance of a star with six or twelve rays on the surface of the stone. This feature occurs in minerals that have rutile inclusions, using the cutting method, which is called "cabochon". costs more than others.

Mining

Sapphire is a stone whose deposits are found on all continents except Antarctica. The most valuable and beautiful of them are minerals from India and Tanzania. Ceylon is also a popular place where sapphire is mined. In India, the Kashmir deposit was discovered after an earthquake that exposed the richest deposits of sapphires of amazingly pure, cornflower blue color. This shade is considered the reference for blue corundum. Ceylon stone and gems from Burma are approaching him. Now the development of the Kashmir deposit has been stopped.

In Tanzania, two types of stones are mined, which have received a separate name. Songea and Tunduru are the names of the deposits, which have also become the names of the sapphires mined there. Songea - more often green or reddish stones, among which there are many minerals with the effect of asterism. It is believed that these corundums have the richest color palette. Interesting feature songea - striking purity, combined with small size. A 2-carat songea is already a rarity. Tunduru is the only deposit in Tanzania where blue-colored minerals are mined.

Stones from the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) are known not only for their quality, but also for their rare properties. Minerals are often mined there that can show asterism after a suitable cut or change color under certain conditions. They often become collection items in their own right, without being included in the jewelry.

Properties

Sapphire is a stone to which magical properties have been attributed for centuries, largely related to its colors. So, minerals, whose main shade is blue, were associated in different civilizations with divine power and authority.

This precious gem has always served as a worthy decoration for the vestments of the clergy in India and Judea. In the Roman Empire, only priests of the supreme deity of the pantheon, Jupiter, could wear jewelry with them. In these religions, sapphire, whose properties were especially valued by the high priests of the Roman pantheons, personified calmness and a penchant for contemplation. In the countries of the Ancient East, this stone has always been spoken of as a carrier of wisdom, and in Europe - modesty and virtue.

Astrologers believe that sapphire is associated with Jupiter and Saturn, and recommend it to the signs of the air and fire elements. For Leos and Sagittarius, wearing these stones will bring stability, help curb irrepressible energy and negative character traits. Unstable Aquarius and Libra sapphires give peace, self-knowledge and confidence. Useful sapphire for Pisces.

Previously believed in. It was believed that a lady who wanted to attract the attention of her lover needed to drink him from dishes inlaid with corundum. And the properties of the stone associated with the manifestation of asterism were considered the embodiment of Faith, Hope and Love.

Price

The cost of a stone is determined by four indicators, which in English-speaking countries are called the rule of four Cs (Colour, Clarity, Cut, Carat weight):

sapphire color;
the purity of the stone;
cut;
carat weight.

These characteristics of sapphire together determine its value. The most important of these is considered color as a decisive indicator of the quality and the possibility of using a stone in jewelry.

Now these stones, so beloved by the august persons, occupy a worthy place in the catalogs of the largest jewelry houses. Regardless of whether it will jewelry used in classic or innovative combination of metals and stones, sapphires will emphasize the refined taste and style of their owner.

How to choose?

When choosing a stone, it is important not to stumble upon a fake made of glass or other material that unscrupulous dealers can pass off as an expensive natural gem. How to choose the right sapphire? It can be difficult to do this, especially if the buyer is new to the jewelry business and understands little about the essence of the issue. However, some tips are still worth following.

The main physical characteristic of a mineral is its hardness. You can try to scratch it a little, without fear that the indignation of the sellers will have consequences because of this simple check, which can be decisive. This is often done, and if, when a stone is scratched with a pointed object, traces appear on it, then it is a fake. Of course, it is not a fact that the seller will be satisfied, but you can try.

What does a sapphire look like if it is real? Usually the structure of a natural mineral is heterogeneous, which is clearly shown by bright light. If the stone inside is suspiciously uniform in color and has no roughness, most likely it is a fake. It is also important to keep in mind that the colors of sapphire and even its structure can be imitated using some other, cheaper natural stone. This means that you need to increase your vigilance. Moreover, there are many cases when specially colored tourmalines are often given out for expensive types of sapphires.

In specialized gemological laboratories, there are special chemical solutions, thanks to which it is possible to determine a fake with much greater accuracy. It is best to consult with familiar jewelers before buying, if they exist, and you should buy jewelry in trusted places.

Instruction

Sapphire is a type of corundum, a mineral that is aluminum oxide. It has a strong brilliance and high strength, which is only slightly inferior to diamond. For this reason, this stone is considered simply created for cutting. The melting point of sapphire is 2040°C.

The color range of this gem varies from light blue to almost black. There are also instances of pink, orange, yellow and green in nature. However, their value is not particularly high. However, as well as light blue and black sapphire.

Sapphires are mined in a limited number of places on earth. Almost 80% comes from Australia, the minerals are dark blue in color, which appear black under artificial lighting. They are considered the most inexpensive, unlike Kashmiri stones, which have a unique cornflower blue hue. According to experts, having seen it once mined in Kashmir (India), it can never be confused with another mineral. These gemstones are highly valued on the market, with particularly large specimens selling for millions of dollars at auctions.

The cost of sapphires mined in Sri Lanka and Burma is also high. Burmese minerals are characterized by rich Blue colour with a slight ultramarine tint. And sapphires from Sri Lanka are distinguished by a paler color with pronounced dichroism. However, in both crystals, one can often notice inclusions of white needles (“silk”) that catch light when the stone rotates. If such a "silk" is visible in a sapphire with the naked eye, the value of the stone is reduced. The only exception is the case when white needles form the shape of a star.

Not so long ago, sapphire deposits were discovered in the US state of Montana. Minerals mined there are distinguished by a grayish metallic luster. The color range of American sapphires can vary from light blue and turquoise to cornflower blue. Sapphires are also mined in Thailand.

Small to medium-sized natural sapphires are often heat-treated for refinement. This method allows you to change the intensity, remove unnecessary shades or eliminate "silk". Australian sapphires are especially hardened. Thanks to this procedure, their color becomes lighter. During cutting, cracks are removed in the stone. Large specimens of sapphires, as a rule, are not subjected to heat treatment, since their value is greatly reduced in this case.

The price of such a precious stone depends on the place of its extraction, size, shade, purity, structure. The cost of large sapphires usually starts at $ 1,000 per carat. There are cases when such minerals were sold for millions of dollars. Medium sized sapphires typically sell for $300-600 per carat. And very small specimens (less than 0.5 carats) can be bought for $ 10-20, especially if they have a lot of different inclusions.

Currently on the market for sale a large number of products with high-quality synthetic sapphires, which can sometimes be distinguished from natural ones only by an experienced jeweler. Moreover, a fake is especially difficult to detect if the stone is in a closed frame - then the refractometer displays the indicators characteristic of natural sapphire.

As a setting for sapphire, jewelers usually use silver or White gold, whose color is in perfect harmony with the cold shades of the stone. With this combination, the mineral looks especially advantageous. However, in stores you can also buy products with sapphire in yellow or rose gold.

So - what is a sapphire?

Sapphire- blue or dark blue gem-quality corundum, the stone is very valuable, one might say of the highest class. In fact, it is not only blue. It's just that when it comes to sapphire, people imagine an image of a bright, blue gem. Sapphire is distinguished by unusual strength and hardness, thanks to which the stone is very durable and resistant to external influences.

The word "sapphire" comes, most likely, from the Babylonian "sipru" - scratching, which may well be, given the hardness of this mineral. In Rus' until the 19th century, sapphires were called azure yahonts. Today, sapphires are called jewelry corundums of any color, except.

Physical and chemical properties of sapphire

Sapphire - A precious variety of corundum.
Mineral class: Oxides.
The chemically pure formula is Al2O3.
Color: blue, light blue, pink, yellow, green, colorless, red-orange, violet.
The color is due to metal impurities: titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, vanadium.
Luster: glassy.
Transparency: transparent to opaque.
Light refraction: 1.766-1.774.
Hardness on the Mohs scale - 9.
Density - 4.0 g/cm.
Is the mineral brittle?: No.
Cleavage: absent.
Syngony: trigonal.
Fracture: conchoidal.

Homeland of the best blue sapphires - Kashmir

The color of a quality Kashmir sapphire is simply gorgeous, it is a perfect velvety mid-blue color. Often this color is described as "sleepy", accentuated by a milky haze that appears due to the presence in the stone of cavities filled with liquid, or crystals so tiny that they are difficult to see even under a powerful microscope.

It should be noted, however, that not all Kashmiri sapphires are really good. The buyer should remember that a gemological certificate confirming that the stone was mined in Kashmir does not yet guarantee its high quality. Connoisseurs when shopping rely on the fact that once they see the true cornflower blue hue of Kashmir sapphire, it can no longer be forgotten. The color of other sapphires is evaluated solely in comparison with Kashmir.

Burmese sapphires can also be excellent quality: their color is more saturated, tending to ultramarine blue, among them there are high-quality specimens of large sizes. Sapphires from Sri Lanka are usually paler, some of them almost colorless; but the best stones nevertheless approximate in color to those of Kashmir.

To expensive jewelry stones also referred to as opaque, in which, after processing in the form of a cabochon, sliding on the surface of the stone when it is turned is revealed. This property (asterism) is due to inclusions of thin rutile needles oriented along certain crystallographic directions, intersecting at an angle of 120°, or the presence of hollow tubular channels passing in the crystal in the same directions.

Another variety of sapphire color worthy of a separate name: padparadscha, Songea, Tunduru.