RING GUIDES
How to Tell If a Sapphire Is Real
When you’re shopping for either a loose sapphire gemstone or a piece of sapphire jewellery, there are a few ways you can ensure you’re purchasing the real deal. When buying any type of fine jewellery, it's important to know you’re shopping with a reputable seller with legitimate produce. Let's explore how you can ensure your sapphire jewellery contains the real deal.
What is a Lab Grown Sapphire?
A lab grown sapphire is a gemstone that is created in a laboratory instead of one formed naturally within the earth. These gemstones, although man-made, have the exact same chemical, visual and physical properties as mined sapphires! They also come at a lower price point due to their ability to be produced at a higher rate, meaning there’s more of them on the market. If you'd like to learn more about lab grown sapphires then take a look at our lab sapphire guide where we go into detail about these gems.
What Is a Fake Sapphire?
A fake or counterfeit sapphire is a piece of stone, class or crystal which is made to look like a sapphire. These stones could be sold under the false pretence of being a genuine sapphire, so it's important to know how to spot the fakes before beginning your sapphire buying journey.
Are Lab Grown Sapphires Real?
Yes! Lab grown sapphires are absolutely real sapphires, the only difference between a lab grown sapphire and a natural one is how it's created. While natural sapphires grow within the earth over millions of years, lab grown ones are man-made in a laboratory over a few weeks where the natural conditions of sapphire formations are replicated to create gemstones. You can learn more about sapphires in our sapphire gemstone guide, from prices to how they're made, get all your questions answered!
Sapphire Engagement Rings
How Can I Find Out If My Sapphire Is Fake?
There are a few ways that you might tell if a sapphire is genuine without using any specialist equipment:
Take a Closer Look
Real sapphires are rich in colour, often showcasing rich blues, greens, teals and even pinks. However, if the stone appears to be too vivid then it could be a fake. It's also a good idea to look out for slight imperfections as many sapphires will have small flaws inside the gemstone, if your sapphire is absolutely flawless with no inclusions at all then it’s possible it could be an imitation sapphire.
Measure the Weight
Sapphires are more weighty than glass or plastic, so you can always measure the weight against a similar piece of jewellery that you know is genuine, and if it's coming in a lot lighter then the stone could be fake. For example, if you have a ring that you know holds a real sapphire of a similar size to the one you’re curious about, measure the weight against the ring in question.
Water Drop Test
A great hack to determine whether your sapphire is real is by placing a droplet of water onto the stone and seeing how it reacts. If the water drop holds together and spreads across the stone then it might be a real sapphire, this is due to the fact that sapphires have a high surface tension, meaning that water will roll off the stone far easier than glass or plastic.
Scratch Test
Another easy hack is the scratch test. If the stone you’re curious about doesn't hold any sentimental value, try very gently scratching it and if the stone is left unmarked then it could be real. Sapphires score very high on the Mohs scale at 9 which means they’re pretty hardy and won’t scratch very easily.
Consult a Jeweller
If you’re still unsure about whether your sapphire is genuine, the best thing to do is chat with a jeweller and ask them to look over the stone for you. They will be able to give you a definitive answer so you can rest easy knowing that your beloved gemstone is authentic.
Find Your Perfect Sapphire With Jessica Flinn
At Jessica Flinn, we’re big fans of sapphires! In fact, we’d go as far as to say they’re one of our specialities. If you want to work with a reputable jeweller who knows the ins and outs of sapphires, then book an appointment with us and we can begin your journey to find your perfect sapphire ring. Whether you want to go bespoke, custom or shop from our ready to wear selection, we’ve got you covered.
