This
is our education section, where we explain important details of sapphires and the
two main differences between a truly Natural sapphire and a treated one.
Most (if not all) sapphires and sapphire jewelry seen online and in retail stores
will be described as “natural” sapphires. These natural sapphires are
usually not accompanied with proper disclosure regarding the treatments that they
have undergone. The word “natural” is intended to identify a sapphire
crystal that has come from the ground (not synthetically created). What is likely
to be left out in the description is the fact that the color and clarity, indicated
as "natural", is really not just "natural". In almost all cases
the color and clarity of the sapphire will come from various treatments that you
may very well not be aware of.
Yes, a natural sapphire is a sapphire crystal that has been created in the ground
- but the color and clarity (what you are paying for in a sapphire) is created from
a heating process that would have never occurred naturally in the stone that is
being shown.
Treated sapphires are not rare. In fact, unlimited quantities exist. Consumers looking
for true value in their sapphire jewelry should be aware of misleading descriptions
of treated sapphires being called “natural”. This is just side-stepping
open disclosure about the treatment of the stones. Like most things these days,
you have to look at the fine print to find out what you’re really looking
at and considering purchasing.
The truth is that almost everything you will see in sapphires anywhere is treated,
and treating is not a simple process. It is a sophisticated procedure that has taken
decades to perfect by experienced enhancement specialists. The stones are not just
thrown in an oven and baked like cookies.
Treating and heating a stone is a very involved process that significantly changes
the original appearance (and value) of the rough crystal that came out of the ground.
Ultra-high temperature gas furnaces heat these stones for a period of 3-10 days,
at or above the melting point of the crystal (1800°C). Additives such as glass
and coloring agents can be included in the heating process in order to fill in natural
cavities and cracks in the sapphires. Coloring agents are then diffused into the
heating process in many cases, where the coloring of the sapphire is completely
and radically altered. Trying to determine what you are buying is now a scientific
research project in most cases.
Obviously, our business is all about the rare and truly natural beauty of "real"
sapphires, so of course we can be a bit too direct when it comes to comparing the
differences between a treated sapphire and a REAL untreated sapphire. We try to
be fair, but we find disclosure and education is heavily undermined by most other
companies selling treated stones.
A Natural Untreated sapphire is nothing more and nothing less - it is the stone
from the ground as Mother Nature made it. The color and clarity is just how it came
from the earth, all we do is facet it!
We offer a third party laboratory report for most of the sapphires that we have
for sale. These reports come from the most reputable color stone laboratories in
the world (GIA lab primarily). These laboratory analysis reports are costly and
take many weeks to obtain for each sapphire. It is not a mass market, smoke-and-mirrors
document; these reports are from professional laboratories with no interest in any
details other than scientific reporting.
Quality and Value are rare in most things these days. Here at The Natural Sapphire
Company we offer something unique and truly valuable. Please browse the many areas
of our education section below for further details on sapphires.