Treatments or enhancements on the Blue sapphire gemstone (Neelam stone) are done to either make the color light or dark or to improve the clarity and transparency.
The natural blue sapphire stones are mined from the earth in a natural shape. Further, these sapphire stones are polished in laboratories.
Gemstones are policed in the labs to improve the quality of the gemstone and can be used in jewelry to fetch more price.
However, it is ethically essential for a dealer to disclose whether the sapphire is heated or unheated or whether a treatment has been done on the gemstones while trading.
Heat treatment in blue sapphire
Blue sapphire is heated to a very high temperature to change its appearance.
Heat treatment is a common practice in the gemstone industry to enhance the color and clarity of gemstones, including blue sapphires. Blue sapphires are typically heated at high temperatures (up to 1800°C) to improve their color and remove inclusions or blemishes.
Surface diffusion
Sapphire gemstones are heated at a very temperature in the presence of coloring agents to allow chemicals to penetrate the stone.
Fracture filling
Stones are filled with epoxy resin or glass OR lead glass to conceal the fractures.
Imitation sapphires are other substances, such as synthetic spinel, blue CZ, or glass. These are also not considered natural sapphire stones in the gemstone world.
Any treatment done on the stones damages the internal structure of the gemstones.
Hardness & toughness of blue sapphire
The hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and Toughness are usually excellent, but large fractures can lessen the durability.
Stability (Resistance to Heat and Chemicals)
Heat – Heat can cause a change in color or clarity.
Light – Fracture filling may dry out.
Chemicals – They can harm the fillings in fracture-filled stones.
Synthetic Blue Sapphire Gemstone
A synthetic gem is an artificial material with the same chemical composition, crystal structure, and optical and physical properties as a natural gemstone.
Blue Sapphire stone synthetics are readily available in the market. Blue Sapphire is made from flame fusion, flux, hydrothermal, and floating zone many processes in the market.
As we already know, synthetic sapphire stones are man-made gems created in a lab. Synthetic sapphire gems are glass-filled gemstones made by filling real and natural sapphire stone residue after polishing in the lab.
After filling this residue of sapphire in glass and heating it at a high temperature, the synthetic gemstone is created.