What is Natural Sapphire?
Sapphire, fall in the category of harder gemstones like that of moissanite and diamonds. And are used for industrial purposes for various forms of tools and devices. For watches and clocks and also predominantly for jewelry and jewelry industries.
They come with different types of stories according to their source of origin. For instance, among all the shades of sapphires available. The blue ones were discovered at first from places like Australia, Vietnam, Kenya, and Ceylon. The other shades were discovered nearby or within the same mines. As those of the blue ones and were discovered not much before.
The cost of these stones is generally determined by what color they exactly are or also by their places of origin. Excluding the facts such as their official rating and grades from the GIA.
Now the sapphire which get the rating of gemstone quality stone are rare in the market and may be described as precious gemstones. Also, sapphires which come from a specific region and are from specific times tend to be more expensive than the latter ones.
What is Synthetic Sapphire?
Synthetic or artificially produced sapphire are made from varieties of corundum and were introduced to the jewelry and gemstone. Market just after the discovery of synthetic rubies and corundum itself in the late years of the 1800s. Sapphires and rubies to are formed from varieties of corundum. And this is exactly why true red sapphires are not to be found.
Since they were used in the industrial market, sapphires have been created artificially in various gemstone laboratories and can be easily duplicated. They also tend to be the less expensive and good alternative variant from their real counterparts.
Lab-Created Sapphire VS Natural Sapphire
Below are listed some of the basic points considering which one can differentiate between a lab-created and natural sapphire.
Cost Difference
It is perhaps the biggest difference between any artificial and original or natural product; be it a gemstone or furniture or something else. Naturally mined sapphires tend to demand much higher prices than the lab-made flawless sapphires simply because they can be produced so easily and efficiently. This is also such because natural sapphires come with their difficulty to mine. Their high labor costs and charges, and also because they are a rare type of gemstone; not often to be found everywhere.
Visual Difference
Naturally formed sapphires come with various types of specks and flaws. Which are formed as the gases and minerals get trapped inside the stone at the time of their crystallization just before they get cooled.
They come in varieties of colors namely light or deep blue, yellow, orange, purple, and a lot more. The blue sapphire is the most wanted color and type of them all and hence artificial sapphire makers tend to mass-produce just the blue ones. And hence do not provide any form of color variation.
Moreover, as the lab-grown sapphires are produced under scientific jurisdiction. They tend to be flawless and of top-notch quality. And as so, do not contain any kind of flaws or imperfections to them.
Their Places Of Origin
It is also a thing that determines the rareness and preciousness of a sapphire. People tend to distinguish and rate sapphires according to where they are mined from or brought from.
Natural sapphires are mined all over the world from various countries and places. Some of the countries are Australia, Vietnam, and Kenya. Now, with each sapphire stone, there is an aura of mystery and a story of their origin involved. And we humans always admire the different or the unique. Hence such stories tend to overview a different outlook on the naturally mined sapphires. And thus are their prices determined in the jewelry market.
On the other hand, artificial sapphires are not that much of a deal as their naturally mined counterparts. Simply because they are made in laboratories and with the help of scientific processes and tools. And all of these are done under human jurisdiction. Simply put, there is no uniqueness to it as therefore no such background story. As exactly this, they tend to be cheaper and are not demanded massively by the masses.
Flaws
Natural sapphire tend to have various types of flaws that get develop. When the crystal is not in its hardened state and some gases and minerals get mixed up in the stone.
But the lab-grown or synthetic sapphires, on the other hand, have almost zero flaws with them. As they are form in control environments under natural jurisdiction and generally become more of a “flawless” gemstone.
Pricing Of Lab-Created And Natural Sapphire
There are many criteria on which the pricing of a gemstone depends on and thus varies. These criteria are namely purity of the gem, clarity, several flaws in them, quality and facet shape hue or saturation, size, etc. It also depends on the fact about where does the gemstone comes from and where exactly it was mined.
According to their size, a naturally formed sapphire of the color blue of decent or higher quality may cost about $30 per carat or even a bit higher. The best ones are of extensive quality cost up to $50 or more. Whereas; the lab-grown ones are the less expensive variables and cost about $10 lesser per carat than that of the natural ones.
Now, it should be kept in mind that this pricing is not at all to be taken in an exact form and are only to just get an idea about it. The ultimate price varies according to their pairing or conjunction with similar sapphires or any other gemstones or jewelry cuts, and settings.
Sapphire Choosing Tips
Below are some of the tips one might consider before they distinguish and buy between a naturally mined or a lab-grown sapphire-
Color
It should be noted that most lab-grown sapphires come in the color blue due to their market valuation and need. But on the other hand, the natural ones along with the color blue come in many other colors too and with their inclusions additionally.
Budget
The budget is always the determining criteria for any kind or form of gemstone that is needed to be bought. Simply, for the cheaper options go for the lab-grown sapphires or if one is looking for natural authenticity. And the budget is not an issue then they must go for the natural ones.
Uniqueness
The natural sapphires are always unique due to the stories and the names of the places of their origin that comes along with it. If one does not find such things to be alluring or intriguing. Then they, by all means, can go for the lab-grown options.
Conclusion
We can ultimately conclude that quality is not the thing that is hinder here by any chance. Both the naturally made sapphire and the lab-grown sapphire are of the same specs and qualities, be it physically, chemically, or visually. The choice of which on to buy and which not should always be and will remain in the hands of the respective buyer or customer. As we by no means should dare to tell someone how they want to spend their hard-earned dollars.