Is This A Natural Sapphire?

[unique]

Hi, I''d greatly appreciate your opinions on whether this is a sapphire, and whether it is a natural, untreated one or a synthetic one.

I''ve tried to take photos of it, inclusions and all, but the colour didn''t come out right. It''s actually a pretty medium blue from the front, but is much paler and patchy when viewed from the back. It''s got quite a few inclusions. Will try to post the other pictures after posting this.

Dimensions are approx 8 x 10mm.

It has a wierd setting where the back of the stone sticks out. Any ideas why it was set this way?

I recently bought it on eBay. The seller said that it''s an old Victorian piece, probably converted from a ring.

Thanks for your help!

 

[unique]

More pics

 

[unique]

Sorry if the pics are not too clear!

 

[unique]

Last pic!

 

[strmrdr]

flame fusion synthetic is my guess due to the bubble inclusions.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

No Storm, those appear to be natural inclusions typical of sapphire. The color zoning also indicates natural sapphire.

It doesn''t look old to me though. The sapphire has the look of being heated, which (if it is the case) would put the piece post-1979.

 

[gemmy1]

Date: 7/20/2006 9:04:02 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
No Storm, those appear to be natural inclusions typical of sapphire. The color zoning also indicates natural sapphire.

It doesn''t look old to me though. The sapphire has the look of being heated, which (if it is the case) would put the piece post-1979.

Agree, inclusions consistent with natural sapphire. If you look at the first image the main inclusion appears to be a tiny sapphire crystal. Normally you would expect to see some expansion fracturing (from high temp) around a crystal like this. I think there is a possibility it is unheated.

 

[CaptAubrey]

Date: 7/20/2006 9:56:07 AM
Author: gemmy1

Date: 7/20/2006 9:04:02 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
No Storm, those appear to be natural inclusions typical of sapphire. The color zoning also indicates natural sapphire.

It doesn''t look old to me though. The sapphire has the look of being heated, which (if it is the case) would put the piece post-1979.

Agree, inclusions consistent with natural sapphire. If you look at the first image the main inclusion appears to be a tiny sapphire crystal. Normally you would expect to see some expansion fracturing (from high temp) around a crystal like this. I think there is a possibility it is unheated.

With the caveat that you generally don''t want to do these kinds of things from a photo on a computer monitor, I''ll agree with the above. Definitely not a flame fusion stone, which are normally flawless (gas bubbles, if present, are always tiny, spherical, and need magnification to see).

Hard to tell what those transparent-appearing things in the first photo are, but if they are indeed sapphire (possibly zircon) their pristine state would seem to indicate a lack of heating to me.

But I hate making these kinds of assessments long distance, so if you''re really interested, have a jeweler look at it. My concern is that some of what appear to be inclusions might just be dirt.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 7/20/2006 9:04:02 AM
Author: Richard Sherwood
No Storm, those appear to be natural inclusions typical of sapphire. The color zoning also indicates natural sapphire.

It doesn''t look old to me though. The sapphire has the look of being heated, which (if it is the case) would put the piece post-1979.

kewl
Whats interesting is that I was looking at last week what was being sold as synthetic sapphire that the inclusions looked just like the first photo.. elongated bubbles.
What else should I look for if he still has them?
Now I wonder if the guy didnt know what he was talking about, it was used so there wasnt any paper work or anything.
Glad you came around and corrected my guess :}

 

[unique]

Thank you all for your comments ... really appreciate your help and expertise on this!

 

[innerkitten]

OMG I saw that on Ebay ! It''s from the UK right? I''m always looking at antique stuff on that site and have found some cool items. I asked the seller about it cause I was curious and he said his friend is sime sort of an expert and says it''s natural . It''s a really pretty piece. Congrats!