Pink sapphire? Or something else?

[ItsJustAnt]

Can anyone help distinguish, or give me tips to distinguish if this is a lab created or natural occuring sapphire? It was recently acquired at an estate sale, in a jewlery lot and the pictured "info card" is all that was included. Thanks for any and all help!
-Ant

 

[chrono]

10.2 ct untreated natural seems suspect although there is always the possibility that you got lucky. Is the clarity very clean?

 

[VividRed]

There is no way a 10ct unheated pink sapphire is sold with only a handwritten note attached to it. It has to be synthetic.

That, or you are indeed very lucky.

Don’t try and guess, bring it to a gem lab. If it is synthetic they will be able to tell you right away.

 

[ItsJustAnt]

10.2 ct untreated natural seems suspect although there is always the possibility that you got lucky. Is the clarity very clean?

To the naked eye it looks very clean and pink, under a cheap Amazon microscope it has very fine "hairlines" I'd call them through a decent amount of the stone. I did a float test and it seems slightly magnetic to a 10lb neodymium magnet.
So, Do both synthetic and natural occuring glow pink under long wave UV?

 

[ItsJustAnt]

There is no way a 10ct unheated pink sapphire is sold with only a handwritten note attached to it. It has to be synthetic.

That, or you are indeed very lucky.

Don’t try and guess, bring it to a gem lab. If it is synthetic they will be able to tell you right away.

It came in an estate sale with a bunch of mineral specimens and other gemstones. All the stuff was marked with handwritten notes, as far as I can tell, the other stuff that is labeled seems legit (such as this Autunite)
The pink sapphire definitely drew some questions though. If it's not lab created, what do you think this would be worth? I might have to do that if it's value! I'm new to this, who would I take it to to be checked out? I'm in Eastern Pennsylvania if that helps.

 

[pearlsngems]

...
So, Do both synthetic and natural occuring glow pink under long wave UV?

I have both natural and synthetic rubies that glow red under long wave UV.

 

[Avondale]

I did a float test and it seems slightly magnetic to a 10lb neodymium magnet.

This won't help you determine whether it's natural or synthetic. Lab corundum is chemically basically identical to natural corundum, the difference between them is where they came from.

So, Do both synthetic and natural occuring glow pink under long wave UV?

Yes, synthetic can be fluorescent just like natural.

I'll leave it to someone else to advise you on where to take the stone to get it checked out as I reside on the other side of the planet.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Hello and welcome to the forum! As my fellow PSers have already mentioned, there really aren't any home tests we can perform to determine whether a corundum is natural or synthetic. They have the same optical properties, along with an identical refractive index and specific gravity. A lab will need to identify microscopic anomalies to separate the two. However, if you have a refractometer, you can easily separate natural sapphire from a simulant (such as glass).

The only labs here in the States that I would trust to accurately test corundum are the GIA in NY (or CA, but you're closer to NY) or AGL in NY. It's a very simple process to send it in via mail. If you really believe this stone could be natural pink sapphire, then it may be worth the cost. Good luck!

How to Submit a Gem

How to Submit a Gem

www.gia.edu

Submission Guidelines — American Gemological Laboratories

www.aglgemlab.com

 

[ItsJustAnt]

Hello and welcome to the forum! As my fellow PSers have already mentioned, there really aren't any home tests we can perform to determine whether a corundum is natural or synthetic. They have the same optical properties, along with an identical refractive index and specific gravity. A lab will need to identify microscopic anomalies to separate the two. However, if you have a refractometer, you can easily separate natural sapphire from a simulant (such as glass).

The only labs here in the States that I would trust to accurately test corundum are the GIA in NY (or CA, but you're closer to NY) or AGL in NY. It's a very simple process to send it in via mail. If you really believe this stone could be natural pink sapphire, then it may be worth the cost. Good luck!

How to Submit a Gem

How to Submit a Gem

www.gia.edu

Submission Guidelines — American Gemological Laboratories

www.aglgemlab.com

Thank you! I don't have a refractometer maybe I'll have to invest in one. Dang, the AGL report would cost more than I paid for the whole auction I guess the GIA one isn't bad for $120 or so. What would estimated value be if this is real vs synthetic? Would it be worth it for me to go through all this is kinda what I'm asking haha.

 

[chrono]

If real, thousands of dollars. If synthetic, a few dollars. My gut feel is synthetic though based on the information presented thus far.

 

[Autumn in New England]

I believe the least expensive option would actually be the GIA report at $120, because the AGL would charge $160 for the Prestige ID (since this stone exceeds the size restriction for a GemBrief). However, if the stone turned out to be a synthetic or simulant, I wonder if it would instead fall under the "other" category for the GIA report (and be $70). You may want to call and find out. If the stone is indeed a natural pink sapphire weighing over 10ct., then testing it would certainly be worth the cost. If it ends up being a synthetic or simulant, not so much. It's a gamble!

 

[Autumn in New England]

If real, thousands of dollars. If synthetic, a few dollars. My gut feel is synthetic though based on the information presented thus far.

I must concur ^.

 

[Autumn in New England]

OP, maybe take it to a local G.G. just to get their opinion on it first. They'd charge you very little in comparison, I'm sure. If he or she feels strongly one way or the other, then you can decide whether it's worth it to send it out to the GIA. Good luck!

 

[ItsJustAnt]

OP, maybe take it to a local G.G. just to get their opinion on it first. They'd charge you very little in comparison, I'm sure. If he or she feels strongly one way or the other, then you can decide whether it's worth it to send it out to the GIA. Good luck!

Sorry, new... Local G.G.? Haha

 

[Avondale]

Sorry, new... Local G.G.? Haha

Graduate Gemologist. Meaning someone who has the knowledge and qualifications. In many cases a trained eye and a quality loupe/microscope can be all that's necessary to determine with relative certainty whether a stone is natural or synthetic. If the gemologist looks at it and says they believe it's a natural stone, it will most likely be worth it to send it for certification as this is what will allow you to sell it at a high price.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Graduate Gemologist. Meaning someone who has the knowledge and qualifications. In many cases a trained eye and a quality loupe/microscope can be all that's necessary to determine with relative certainty whether a stone is natural or synthetic. If the gemologists looks at it and says they believe it's a natural stone, it will most likely be worth it to send it for certification as this is what will allow you to sell it at a high price.

Exactly, thank you for explaining!

 

[ItsJustAnt]

Graduate Gemologist. Meaning someone who has the knowledge and qualifications. In many cases a trained eye and a quality loupe/microscope can be all that's necessary to determine with relative certainty whether a stone is natural or synthetic. If the gemologists looks at it and says they believe it's a natural stone, it will most likely be worth it to send it for certification as this is what will allow you to sell it at a high price.

Gotcha! Wasn't sure of the acronym haha. Anywhere I can find a list of GGs? Then I can go from there.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Gotcha! Wasn't sure of the acronym haha. Anywhere I can find a list of GGs? Then I can go from there.

Yes! The GIA has an alumni list per state. Let me have a look...

 

[Autumn in New England]

Here it is...

Alumni Portal

www.gia.edu

 

[Autumn in New England]

Oh and make sure the person you choose has graduate gemologist credentials (you can see this by clicking on their name). Because people on this list can also be A.J.P.'s, which is very different.

 

[ItsJustAnt]

Oh and make sure the person you choose has graduate gemologist credentials (you can see this by clicking on their name). Because people on this list can also be A.J.P.'s, which is very different.

Thank you a ton! Now hopefully I have somewhere to start! TBH, when I bid on the auction, I had no clue there were gemstones, I thought it was just a mineral lot, and only two other people even seemed interested haha... come to find out this pink sapphire was in it, along with a bunch of other stuff! 3 or 4 5carat Garnets, some 2.8c Peridot, possibly a Ruby or two, two deconstructed pearl necklaces (one white, one Tahitian), and a bunch of other stuff that I don't know what they are lol

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thank you a ton! Now hopefully I have somewhere to start! TBH, when I bid on the auction, I had no clue there were gemstones, I thought it was just a mineral lot, and only two other people even seemed interested haha... come to find out this pink sapphire was in it, along with a bunch of other stuff! 3 or 4 5carat Garnets, some 2.8c Peridot, possibly a Ruby or two, two deconstructed pearl necklaces (one white, one Tahitian), and a bunch of other stuff that I don't know what they are lol

Hey you never know! I wish you luck... keep us posted.

 

[ItsJustAnt]

I got some microscope close-ups to see if they'd help lol. This is 100-200x magnification according to the manufacturer box.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

it looks to be quite pretty
if it turns out to not be natural id have it set in a silver pendent and wear it / gift it

 

[Autumn in New England]

I got some microscope close-ups to see if they'd help lol. This is 100-200x magnification according to the manufacturer box.

This mostly looks like surface abrasion, as opposed to identifying internal characteristics. And while natural sapphire can definitely abrade, to me, this just looks more like a simulant that's spent some time bouncing around with other stones in a parcel. But I can't be sure... a trained eye really needs to evaluate it in person. I'm rooting for it to be natural corundum, but I just don't want you to be disappointed if it's not. Crossing my fingers for you!!

 

[ItsJustAnt]

it looks to be quite pretty
if it turns out to not be natural id have it set in a silver pendent and wear it / gift it

Thank you! The pictures don't do it justice, I have a light box coming later this week, if it works out I can get some better pictures! If it's real, and worth a few grand, I'd probably put it towards a down payment on a house! The fiance and I are at that kinda point in life haha.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thank you! The pictures don't do it justice, I have a light box coming later this week, if it works out I can get some better pictures! If it's real, and worth a few grand, I'd probably put it towards a down payment on a house! The fiance and I are at that kinda point in life haha.

Aww now I'm really going to be hoping you get some good news on this gem!

 

[pokerface]

I believe I see curved growth lines in a number of these photos, which is a hallmark for synthetic sapphire. Given that the stone is large and very clean, the curved growth lines, the fact that it was sold in a lot with glass stones (the "synthetic" spinel) and the price, I am confident that this stone is a synthetic sapphire at best.

 

[ItsJustAnt]

I believe I see curved growth lines in a number of these photos, which is a hallmark for synthetic sapphire. Given that the stone is large and very clean, the curved growth lines, the fact that it was sold in a lot with glass stones (the "synthetic" spinel) and the price, I am confident that this stone is a synthetic sapphire at best.

Yea, I'm not holding my breath on it lol, if it's worth $5000, awesome! If it's worth $50, I'd still be happy... hell, even if it's worth $5, with all the other random stuff I got in the lot, I'll still break even or end up positive! The lot did come with plenty of real stones though! There are 3 (4-5ct) Garnets, 4 (.5ct) Rhodolite Garnets, 5 (2ct) Peridot, both white and tahitian pearls, a few Smoky Quartz stones (including a giant one), and a bunch of other stuff. (Some sold already, there was about a pound or so of really good quality tigers eye stones, one of the other two people bidding on the lot gave me $50 for them before even leaving the auction house lol)
Also, this is the bag it all came in! I tried to Google it, but the business doesn't exist anymore. Could be a good or bad sign I suppose haha.

 

[VividRed]

This is getting interesting, please send the sapphire to a lab and let us know!!