What is a filled sapphire? All about glass filled sapphires – The process is simple, where a low-quality sapphire that has fissures and cracks that reach up to the surface of the sapphire is filled
What is a filled sapphire?
All about glass filled sapphires – The process is simple, where a low-quality sapphire that has fissures and cracks that reach up to the surface of the sapphire is filled with a cobalt-rich form of glass. The cobalt is the element responsible for the blue colour in sapphires.
What is a fissure filled sapphire?
Fissure filling, also known as fracture filling, is the process of filling in small fissures on the surface of a gemstone. Fissures are small, narrow gaps on the surface of the gem. The treatment improves the clarity of the stone by concealing these tiny cavities. This is so the color of the gem is not affected.
Are glass filled rubies worthless?
Lead glass-filled rubies, also known as composite rubies, are nearly worthless (as described in my previous post). The problem is that there are thousands and thousands of sellers who will try to sell you a composite ruby as the real thing.
Does sapphire have cleavage or fracture?
| Sapphire | |
|---|---|
| Cleavage | Poor |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, splintery |
| Mohs scale hardness | 9.0 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
Are diffused sapphires worth anything?
The price between each level of treatment can range from. The exceptionally expensive US$5,000 per carat for unheated natural sapphires. To US$1 per carat for the new treatment lattice-diffused sapphires which has now flooded the market today. This is especially true with many dealers on eBay especially in Thailand.
What is my sapphire worth?
Sapphire prices can range greatly, depending on many factors. Sapphires can come as cheap as $25 per carat, to over $11,000 per carat. A blue sapphire around 1 carat is likely to cost from as little as $450 to $1,600, depending on quality.
Are composite rubies worth anything?
While there is nothing wrong with buying a composite “ruby” as long as you know what you are buying and pay an appropriate price, such stones should sell for a small fraction of the price of treated rubies – we’ve seen them at gem shows for around $30 per carat – and buyers must be extremely cautious when wearing them …
How can you tell if a sapphire is real or glass?
If you’re sapphire shows scratches or nicks, the chances of it being fake are high. Try scratching the surface of the stone with a key or coin. If this leaves scratch marks, the stone is probably glass. A real sapphire cannot be scratched in this way.
What does it mean when a sapphire is diffused?
Blue diffusion-treated sapphires are be- coming more prevalent than ever before. The diffusion technique, which involves the addition of color-causing chemicnls during heat trentment, results in a thin layer of color at the surface of colorless or light-colored sapphire.