When titanium and iron seep into the Al2O3 crystal lattice, a blue hue is created.

These impurities are what give sapphires their illustrious colors. This is when the coloration of the sapphire occurs.Īs the sapphire takes on its crystal structure, impurities leak in. When the hot rock begins to coo l, crystallization occurs. It’s formed by volcanic processes in rock deep in the earth under high temperature, high-pressure conditions.

However, sapphires are actually available in a variety of colors, each valued for their individual characteristics.Ī sapphire is a precious gemstone made of the mineral corundum, or aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The ancient Greeks believed it was the reflection of the sapphire gave the sky and lakes their colors. In fact, the name sapphire comes from the Latin word saphirus meaning blue. The Verdict – Which is Better? Natural Sapphire or the Lab created sapphireįor most people, blue is synonymous with sapphires.It wasn’t until 1902 when Auguste Verneuil discovered the flame fusion method and the first truly successful lab sapphire was created. Attempts to recreate the sapphire in a lab often ended in coming up short simulants just didn’t compare, and synthetics were easy to spot as synthetic. One of the problems with imitation is that it never seems to quite hold up when compared to the real thing. As soon as the demand for the stone rose, gemologists struggled to meet it, all to varying degrees of success. Like celebrities and pop stars, the sapphire so too arrived and quickly earned a status as one of the And also, like celebrities and pop stars, it became a prime candidate for imitation. Celebrities and pop stars know they’ve made it when someone starts copying their style. It’s been said that imitation is the truest form of flattery.

Lab created pink sapphire