Blue sapphires are highly sought-after  and some of our all time favourite jewels! This article is dedicated to the deep blue stone and how to tell the difference between  simulated and real Sapphire Gemstone Jewellery. This gemstone is one of our all time favourites after all so we had to go to great lengths to cover all topics of interest! 

A short introduction to Blue Sapphire:

The name "sapphire" comes from the Greek word sappheiros and from Hebrew sappir meaning "blue stone". Blue Sapphire is  regarded as the birthstone of the month September and together with diamond it is a traditional engagement ring stone. It is also the wedding gift for the 5th and 45th wedding anniversary! Sapphire is the favourite gemstone of royals, noblemen and noblewomen because it is  a symbol of royalty, wealth and power.

This fact has been proven numerous times. Royal jewellery collections are filled to the brim with sapphire and its sibling, the ruby! Sapphires have been a gemstone of high value since antiquity and for generations it was thought to have practical uses as well, such as providing the worn with good fortune, protecting against the evil eye, and  bestowing the wearer with additional wisdom.

Simulated vs Natural Sapphire. how to tell them apart:

It is actually relatively easy to tell a natural sapphire apart from a simulated one. A big tell is the fact that the simulated sapphire looks mostly flawless and has next to no inclusions. Another important factor to check is the colour. The colour in artificial gemstones is completely uniform and ideal. Synthetic sapphires are created in a lab with specialised machinery. Look for flaws and inclusions in sapphires and .

Natural Sapphires tend to have inclusions and some synthetic ones tend to have air bubbles. you can also perform a breath test to judge authenticity. If you breathe on a natural sapphire the fog will evaporate almost instantly. If it is a fake sapphire the breath fog will take more than 5 seconds to evaporate. The other way to make sure it is authentic is to consult the opinion of an expert on the field, like a jeweller for example and even try to get a sapphire certification.

left: real sapphire - right: synthetic sapphire

The History of Simulated Sapphire Crystal:

The production process for synthesised sapphire gemstones was invented by French chemist Auguste Verneuil in 1902. In this process, fine alumina powder is put in an oxyhydrogen flame. The alumina are then deposited, creating synthetic sapphire.

In 1916, another chemist from Poland Jan Czochralski invented a new way to synthesise sapphire. In that process, a tiny seed crystal is placed in a crucible made from iridium or molybdenum, containing molten alumina, and then slowly withdrawn upward at a rate of 1 to 100 mm per hour. After a while synthetic sapphires are created!

In 2003, the world's production of synthetic sapphire was 250 tons, mostly by the United States and Russia. The availability of cheap synthetic sapphire unlocked many industrial uses for this unique material.

How to buy sapphire jewellery:

If you are shopping for sapphire jewellery set the most important factors you need to keep in mind are the following:

1)Colour

Colour is the first and foremost factor that you have to look for. It is the main reason that will decide if you will buy or pass on the stone. For example, if you see deep true blue sapphire earrings this means the sapphire is most likely a good quality sapphire. The closer to true blue the better and more sought after the stone is.

The tone of a stone refers to how light or dark the colour of the stone is. Best-quality sapphires are usually medium to dark tones. As for saturation, this describes how vibrant the colour is, where the most desirable sapphires will have vivid colour. It is important to note that highly saturated stones will have a very dark colour. Saturation is essentially the vibrancy of the sapphire stone. Vibrant means how vivid the colour is and how nicely the stone is shining.

2)Clarity

Clarity in sapphires is important but not the main thing you want to focus on. All sapphires have some inclusions that, like the emeralds form the internal garden of the stone. It is best to keep inclusions at a minimum so that the sapphires are semi translucent. If you cannot see through your sapphire at least to an extent it is of poor quality.

3)Cut

Another characteristic you should pay attention to is the cut of the stone.  A nicely and symmetrically cut sapphire of good quality could cost a lot ranging from £200 to millions depending on carat weight! The best sapphire cuts are emerald cuts, ovals, cabochon, and square cuts. 

4)Carat weight

Carat weight is very important! If all other factors are in place and the stone is of excellent quality, carat weight is ultimately going to dictate the price.  Carats essentially hint at the price of a stone with a high-carat stone rising in price exponentially!

Most popular sapphire jewellery choices:

Blue Sapphire Earring ideas:

Blue Sapphire Necklace ideas:

You can either buy them as a Sapphire Jewellery set or as individual pieces! Sapphire is an exquisite piece that can be worn any day of the year!

But how is it actually worn?:

This blue stone revered through the centuries as the most regal of gemstones can be worn on any occasion, both casual and formal. You can wear your blue sapphire studs paired with your sapphire necklace for a night out or simply a sapphire ring and sapphire drop earrings on your morning walk to the park! 

There is no limit to how you can match this excellent stone because true blue is one of the easiest to pair and also the most soothing colours. The possibilities are literally endless.  This classic stone is also the September birthstone so it can also serve as a birthday outfit! Nothing says "birthday girl" louder than wearing a matching pair of blue sapphire jewellery (sapphire earrings / necklaces for example)! 

It is also a very stylish option for bridesmaids and brides alike! The calm deep blue is easy to match with your bridesmaid outfit and also with a wedding dress! No other gemstone has this ability apart maybe from the diamond!

There is no better gemstone other than the lovely sapphire. Treat yourself to one of our exquisite blue sapphire jewellery sets and mark the special moments in your life with this royal deep blue gemstone.