Sapphire
Sri Lanka
5.96 carats
© Palagems
Sapphire Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Sapphire Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Sapphire gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:0.43 cts
Heaviest:563.35 cts
Average:12.62 cts
Total photos:59
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Significant stones
| General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A variety or type of: | Corundum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Varieties/Types: | Padparadscha - An salmon-pink coloured sapphire. Star Sapphire - A chatoyant sapphire showing asterism. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chemical Formula |
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| Significant stones | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sapphire Treatments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Star-diffusion(titanium): Surface-diffusion on a gem already cut into cabochon shape: strong star effect occuring at and just below the surface. Fiber-optic light: shallow fuzzy whitish surface layer. Very fine "silk", thin fabric structure. In most cases, unlike natural, the rays do not show a 90° orientation to color zoning (crystal faces). Diffusion (beryllium): Most corundum with orangy hue, strong bi-coloration and saturated colors, typically yellow, orange, red-orangy, orangy-pink, pink-purple, hot pink, and padparadscha color are beryllium treated. Other colors may also result or be improved by this treatment (typically ruby, blue and green sapphires): standard tests are limited especially for clean light gems. Very high heat treatment is required to diffuse the coloring agent into the gem. Resulting inclusions are distorted melted guest crystals such as white formless zircon (often with gas bubble). Most melted crystals are surrounded by discoid fractures often with dendritic pattern (partial recrystallization); they often show a cottony appearence. Dot-like inclusions are common. Color concentration may be seen arround melted guest crystal. Color zone following the shape of the gem (rim with distinct coloration from core): immersion in methylen iodide (or coconut/baby oil), diffused transmitted light, frosted complementary color filters (blue for yellow-orangy). YELLOW - Heat-treated: darken temporarily if heated (spoon and lighter 2 min or 15 min within 1 cm of 150W spot light). Yellow-orangy once produced by irradiation: color fading permanently if heated. Diffusion: colorless to yellow-orangy rim, blue haloes/spots (internal diffusion). Synthetic overgrowth can often be seen at girdle and culet: roiled appearance in transmitted light, light areas between cross-polarizing filters. BLUE – Heat-treated: dot-like partially dissolved “silk”, rounded melted crystals surrounded by discoid fractures, diffused color banding, blue spots. Surface diffusion: looking table down with diffused transmitted light (immersion): color concentration at facet junctions, in cracks, around girdle (cabs), uneven facet to facet color distribution. May show natural color zoning. Diffusion: immersion in methylen iodine and diffused transmitted light may reveal a colorless rim, erased-like color banding, undulating color zoning, thin color streaks - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p. 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sapphire Simulants | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Some imitations are made from doublets-blue cobalt glass with a crown of garnet or a crown of green sapphire and a pavillion of synthetic blue sapphire. Lately doublets have appeared using 2 small natural sapphires. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Sapphire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 9, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.95 to 4.03, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenacity | Brittle, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | None, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven,Conchoidal, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.762 to 1.788, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Uniaxial/-, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.008 to 0.009, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Pink sapphires - strong: pink - pinkish-red; Orange/brown stones - distinct: brownish-orange - orangy to colorless; Yellow sapphires - weak: light yellow - yellow-(orangy); Violet/purple sapphires - distinct: bluish-purple - yellow-brown/orange; Blue sapphires - strong: dark (violetish) blue - greenish-blue; Green sapphires - distinct: yellow-green - green to blue-green, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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