how can I tell between real and fake sapphire?

Question

Difference between Cylone and Australian sapphire

Answer 1

Here are some tips that might help:

1) Synthetic Sapphire have a tendency to be "too clean" or "too pure". They almost look like colored glass. Genuine Sapphires range in grade so a basic natural will look a bit opaque while cleaner specimens will still show "striations" or what looks like shadow line through the stone.

As for Ceylon Sapphires vs. others:

Sapphire come from many places in the world. Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ); which has some of the finest samples, India, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Madagascar, Africa, and even the United States. Some visual characteristics to help determine source of your stone, but not always 100% without testing would be:
1) Color Shade: Cornsilk or Lighter Blues are usually Ceylon
2) African and Madgascar have a tendency to be very opaque.
3) Thai Sapphire have been known to be "treated" by Diffusion giving them a "neon" effect.

This is just some visual standards to help. Other than this, gemological testing is what you would need.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, diamonds are real if you can look deep into it's inner core but you need those special jewelers specs. The same should go for sapphires I'm sure. fake stones are too perfect without any inner blemishes, while real one's have slight inner imperfections. They are stones that use to be coal believe it or not!

Answer 3

Fakes are usually IF grade, no impurities. The best way to find out is to test it at some standard lab such as Gem-A.

A better alternative is to buy from a reputed seller and ask for a certificate.

Answer 4

When in room condition real sapphire should feel cold to the touch. The same with Turquoise jewelry.

Answer 5

a gemologist has a special tool that test the hardness.

Answer 6

Just take it to a jeweler

Answer 7

this website will tell you how to tell the difference.
http://www.diamond-guide.com/color_stone_guide/sapphire_synthetic.html