The Man Made Diamonds

There is little doubt that girls love to have diamonds, but these days they look for other options too. The reason may not be price alone, as there are also apprehensions about the genuineness of the stone. There are quite a large variety of gemstones, ranging from cubic zirconium and Moissanite to white sapphire.

Getting the stone evaluated from professional is of course the best way, yet here are some simple tests and observations that an average person can make to assess the authenticity of gemstones like white sapphire.

1. You may use a jeweler’s file to check the hardness of the stone at hand. Real sapphire comprises of mineral corundum, which is the second hardest known material when checked for hardness on Mohs scale. A true sapphire can scratch any surface except that of a diamond. Only a diamond can cause a scratch on a sapphire.

2. Price is another parameter to assess the genuineness of sapphires. White sapphire is not so common as its blue or other colors, and therefore more expensive, though an unscrupulous dealer may raise up the price of an artificial stone to make it sound real.

In spring 2010, the average price of a cut white sapphire, depending on its quality and cut , was reported to vary from $200-$400 per carat. The price of an artificial one is much lower.

3. It helps to know the country of origin of the stone. Real sapphires come from Asian countries like Burma and Sri Lanka and from Australia, Brazil, Madagascar and rocky areas of the U.S. like Montana. Be wary of buying from a seller who is unable to confirm the country of origin or names a rather unusual country.

4. Observe its internal color. A natural white sapphire may be a bit cloudy or off white and may have a faintly yellow tinge about it, whereas a synthetic one may be totally clear.

5. You may ask for a formal evaluation. Jewelers have many tools and devices like a refractometer that makes chemical verification very simple. You should look for a jeweler who has some certification from the Gemological Institute of America with experience of distinguishing colored stones.