Inclusions in unheated “Velvet Blue” sapphire: Please help me understand what I’m seeing

[Dr_Diesel]

This is a 1.26 carat unheated "velvet blue" sapphire from Sri Lanka that was certified by London Gem Lab (LGL) in Sri Lanka

While it does have some rutile silk, it seems that the velvety appearance is due to more than just that. I’m seeing what appears to be a very consistent fingerprint inclusion running throughout the entire crystal (not just a single plane) as well as the number of pinpoint inclusions.

Does anybody understand what we’re looking at? Please tag experts like @fredflintstone @Karl_K @PrecisionGem and anyone else who you think might be able to offer some insight.

I’ve included a couple of normal photos, as well as photos taken with the assistance of a 4x macro lens shining through a 10 X Loop and a 2x magnification boost from my phone.

I think that means that the total magnification is somewhere around 80x? I’m not sure how that math works. Anyway, I digress:

 

[Dr_Diesel]

Here are some videos in case you’re curious what it looks like to the naked eye:

https://imgur.com/a/fLEPOKi

 

[MMtwo]

Beautiful stone.

 

[Dr_Diesel]

Here are some pavilion images so that you can see that, unlike a typical fingerprint or healed fracture (which usually occur in a single plane) these inclusions occur throughout the entire crystal and spread in all three directions:

 

[Avondale]

I'll try tagging @Autumn in New England because I recall she was studying at the GIA. Although, I haven't seen her in a while... But if she sees this, maybe she'll be able to offer some insight.

This is fascinating. It looks like a fingerprint, but the inclusions are spread all throughout the crystal. Wonder what level and grade of clarity that gives the stone. But no wonder it's so silky and glowy, just imagine what's happening to the light inside that crystal, it's bopping and bouncing all over the place.

 

[VividRed]

I would get it because of the amazing fingerprint inclusion, I love watching gems under a loupe and this one would keep me busy for hours. Who am I kidding…years

 

[Dr_Diesel]

I would get it because of the amazing fingerprint inclusion, I love watching gems under a loupe and this one would keep me busy for hours. Who am I kidding…years

It’s definitely piqued my curiosity! I’ve never seen anything like it, including in the Lotus and GIT databases.

I’m wondering if it may be some combination of primary and secondary cavities… which has me wondering, what kind of conditions might’ve caused such an inclusion to occur throughout an entire crystal instead of just a single plane.

You can see from this close-up pavilion photo how the cutting wheel opened up some of the liquid inclusions:



I have a friend who is studying at the GIA send some of the photos to his instructor, so maybe we’ll get some information there.

Such a fascinating phenomenon!