Lab created sapphires - are they for real?

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

This does look pretty similar to a fairly heavily included emerald!

Right?? And it’s super cheap too. He had some doublets that looked better as well but those were a bit more expensive than this; though still super cheap.

Most of the time in India coloured stone jewellery uses low quality coloured stones because Indians don’t really value high quality gemstones. And if you really dont want to spend money but want something that just looks like an emerald you go for something like this.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Thanks again, Gary! I appreciate your input. And I would also like to thank you for your ingenious ideal scope and asset scope creations. They have served me well for over a decade now every time I get a new 100% natural and/or lab created diamond. It's such a satisfying feeling to use the Scopes to make sure the light performance is primo before pulling the trigger on every purchase. They are truly worth their weight in gold!

Thanks Arthur. My wife says why do you bother, the shops make 100 times more money.
It's a mission in my life to make more sparkle in people's diamonds and add to their relationships.

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Thanks Arthur. My wife says why do you bother, the shops make 100 times more money.
It's a mission in my life to make more sparkle in people's diamonds and add to their relationships.

Well, your mission is being accomplished on the daily, good sir. I don't think I'm giving in to hyperbole to say that you're a legend here at the price scope forum. those scopes you invented are such an incredible resource. Thanks to your ideal scope and asset scope devices I'm able to save tons of money buying loose natural diamonds at places like Blue Nile and James Allen and still get a diamond that sparkles like a disco ball (without paying the premium prices for branded "hearts and arrows" stones).

 

[Karl_K]

Right?? And it’s super cheap too. He had some doublets that looked better as well but those were a bit more expensive than this; though still super cheap.

They are a source of a lot of heartbreak as they have been around for a very long time.
Someone brings in their grandmas emerald ring to sell to only find out its not worth thousands.

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

They are a source of a lot of heartbreak as they have been around for a very long time.
Someone brings in their grandmas emerald ring to sell to only find out its not worth thousands.

I would hope that grandma, at least, wasn’t swindled when she bought it! Huge problem of course if it isn’t disclosed, but if it is, I think they totally have a place.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Well, your mission is being accomplished on the daily, good sir. I don't think I'm giving in to hyperbole to say that you're a legend here at the price scope forum. those scopes you invented are such an incredible resource. Thanks to your ideal scope and asset scope devices I'm able to save tons of money buying loose natural diamonds at places like Blue Nile and James Allen and still get a diamond that sparkles like a disco ball (without paying the premium prices for branded "hearts and arrows" stones).

Very good almost H&As are indiscernible from perfect H&As in my long experience.
Sorry for thread jack.

 

[Karl_K]

I would hope that grandma, at least, wasn’t swindled when she bought it! Huge problem of course if it isn’t disclosed, but if it is, I think they totally have a place.

yep properly disclosed they all have a place in the market.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Thanks, karl! I'm sure you are absolutely right about cut quality making a HUGE difference. Oh, and I completely agree about the lab emeralds I've seen online. I haven't seen even one of 'em that looks like an authentic natural emerald. They are too sleek and clean (and the color DOES seem off as well). On the other hand, I've seen several lab rubies online so far that have a really nice authentic look to them (and I'm talking about the VERY inexpensive ones, actually ). So I'll be ordering a few of those soon to see what I think of 'em in person.

Emeralds don't photograph well. The images I make of either lab created or natural emeralds don't look like the stone in person. In person, they are more vivid green.

As far as rubies, and most other lab created material, once cut I don't think many experts could pick out the flame fusion from the pulled Czochralski material from looking at them or using standard testing equipment. The blue sapphires lab created material is another matter, as the flame fusion material has all the color concentrated at the outside of the rough piece.

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Emeralds don't photograph well. The images I make of either lab created or natural emeralds don't look like the stone in person. In person, they are more vivid green.

As far as rubies, and most other lab created material, once cut I don't think many experts could pick out the flame fusion from the pulled Czochralski material from looking at them or using standard testing equipment. The blue sapphires lab created material is another matter, as the flame fusion material has all the color concentrated at the outside of the rough piece.

So in your opinion so-called "cornflower blue" flame fusion lab blue sapphires don't look very authentic in person?

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Emeralds don't photograph well. The images I make of either lab created or natural emeralds don't look like the stone in person. In person, they are more vivid green.

As far as rubies, and most other lab created material, once cut I don't think many experts could pick out the flame fusion from the pulled Czochralski material from looking at them or using standard testing equipment. The blue sapphires lab created material is another matter, as the flame fusion material has all the color concentrated at the outside of the rough piece.

I'm especially partial to the flame fusion rubies I've seen online so far. A lot of them photograph REALLY well. But I'm afraid flame fusion blue sapphires will just look dark and lifeless (with uneven color). But I still haven't seen any up close. I ordered some flame fusion cornflower blue Sapphires just this afternoon, but it will take a while for 'em to arrive from Thailand. It sounds like I should prepare to be disappointed, eh? Phooey.

Oh, well! They were ridiculously inexpensive. And the seller had really high marks on etsy (I've used him in the past for natural semi-precious stones).

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

So in your opinion so-called "cornflower blue" flame fusion lab blue sapphires don't look very authentic in person?

Maybe if you heated them up and dropped them in cold waters make them milky and hazy?

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Maybe if you heated them up and dropped them in cold waters make them milky and hazy?

I would probably screw it up!

 

[PrecisionGem]

So in your opinion so-called "cornflower blue" flame fusion lab blue sapphires don't look very authentic in person?

Here is a picture of some flame fusion dark blue sapphire. You can see the blue color is just at the outside edge. The lighter cornflower blue has the color even thinner along the edge. So as a cutter, you have two choices. Place the color deep into the pavilion and when viewed straight on from the table, the color will look like it's filling the stone, or place the color on top of the crown.

Both methods, depending on the size of the stone, if the stone is viewed in profile, there will be the noticeable color zone. On larger stones this creates a real problem.

The pulled Czochralski method, the color is uniform through out the entire piece.

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Here is a picture of some flame fusion dark blue sapphire. You can see the blue color is just at the outside edge. The lighter cornflower blue has the color even thinner along the edge. So as a cutter, you have two choices. Place the color deep into the pavilion and when viewed straight on from the table, the color will look like it's filling the stone, or place the color on top of the crown.

Both methods, depending on the size of the stone, if the stone is viewed in profile, there will be the noticeable color zone. On larger stones this creates a real problem.

The pulled Czochralski method, the color is uniform through out the entire piece.

Thanks for the explanation and visual example. Very interesting!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

They are a source of a lot of heartbreak as they have been around for a very long time.
Someone brings in their grandmas emerald ring to sell to only find out its not worth thousands.

serves then right for wanting to sell grandma's ring
....opps i was just a spectator on this thread

.....but i do have a lab saphire bracelet that cost way too much money considering it is lab and set in silver

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I'm especially partial to the flame fusion rubies I've seen online so far. A lot of them photograph REALLY well. But I'm afraid flame fusion blue sapphires will just look dark and lifeless (with uneven color). But I still haven't seen any up close. I ordered some flame fusion cornflower blue Sapphires just this afternoon, but it will take a while for 'em to arrive from Thailand. It sounds like I should prepare to be disappointed, eh? Phooey.

Oh, well! They were ridiculously inexpensive. And the seller had really high marks on etsy (I've used him in the past for natural semi-precious stones).

looking forward to seeing these Arthur

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

serves then right for wanting to sell grandma's ring
....opps i was just a spectator on this thread

.....but i do have a lab saphire bracelet that cost way too much money considering it is lab and set in silver

I just guffawed out loud! looking to get rich on Granny's Victorian era costume jewelry is never a wise policy, true.

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

looking forward to seeing these Arthur

If they turn out to be garbage I might be too embarrassed to post 'em. Hahaha. I still can't believe how cheap they were!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

If they turn out to be garbage I might be too embarrassed to post 'em. Hahaha. I still can't believe how cheap they were!

no embarrseement
, you should see some of the stuff i have posted
its all about learning

 

[Dr_Diesel]

might have seen some mined that I mistook for lab but I doubt it.
They are just too clean even to the eye.
The color is also a little questionable sometimes.

Some years ago, I bought a 0.50ct emerald that was sold to me at Muzo origin with No Oil.

It was flawless, extremely well-cut and the color is crazy. When the package arrived, I was sure it was fake. It was just way to perfect in every way.

I sent it to GIA and, just like the seller said, it came back as Columbian Origin and No oil.

 

[Arthur Kennedy]

Speaking of emeralds, I just bought a couple of 5 mm princess cut Colombian lab emeralds online. These are hydrothermal, and the seller was very highly rated on Etsy (which probably doesn't mean much, ultimately.... but it still gives me a little more confidence ). He was running a 20% off sale, so the price was even better than the price of your average hydrothermal lab emeralds. Woot! I know these are waaaaay too clean to look particularly realistic, but I LOVE the color. These look less dark than many of the other lab emeralds I've seen online. And the cut looks pretty nice as well. An added bonus is that up to this point I've only bought one pair of princess cut colored gemstones for my gal (a really cute pair of eye-clean 3.5 mm natural pinkish-red Burmese rubies that she wears as 2nd piercing accent studs). And since my jeweler can set these in 14k yellow gold for only $105 total this should be a nice little "just because" surprise that doesn't break the bank at all.