How Can I Test Sapphire At Home

Sapphire is a beautiful and valuable gemstone that is highly sought after for its durability, hardness, and vivid blue color. You might have heard many stories associated with this mesmerizing blue gemstone. It has been associated with many mythological beliefs. Sapphire has been used in jewelry pieces, including engagement rings, earrings, pendants, and bracelets for centuries. You might have seen sapphire in many royal jewels as well. However, not all sapphires are created equal thus, it is worth knowing how to test a sapphire stone at home to ensure that it is genuine and of good quality. So if you own a natural sapphire gemstone, get ready because, in this article, we will discuss some simple and effective ways to test sapphire stones at home.

Visual Inspection

The first step in testing a sapphire stone is to visually inspect it. A genuine sapphire should have a rich and vivid color evenly distributed throughout the stone. There should be no visible scratches or cracks on the surface of the stone. If the stone has a cloudy or milky appearance, it can be a lower-quality sapphire or a different type of stone altogether. A genuine sapphire should also have a good level of transparency and should not be too opaque.

Heat Resistance Test

One of the most effective ways to test a sapphire stone at home is to perform a heat resistance test. This test is based on the fact that sapphires have a very high melting point, which means they can withstand high temperatures without getting damaged. To perform this test, you will need a pair of tweezers, a spirit lamp or a candle, and a glass of cold water.

Hold the sapphire with the tweezers and heat up the tip of the stone with the spirit lamp or candle flame for about 30 seconds.Because excessive heat can even damage a real sapphire, don’t heat up the stone too much. After heating up the stone, immediately drop it into a glass of cold water. If the sapphire is genuine, it should not get damaged or cracked due to the sudden temperature change. However, if the stone is fake or merely a colored glass it may crack or get damaged due to sudden changes in temperature.

Magnifying Glass Inspection

Another way to test a sapphire stone at home is to use a magnifying glass to look for inclusions or blemishes on the surface of the stone. A genuine sapphire should have very few or no inclusions visible to the naked eye. However, a magnifying glass can help you spot even small inclusions or blemishes that may not be visible to the naked eye. Although inclusions are obvious in natural gemstones, if the stone has a lot of visible inclusions, it may be a lower-quality sapphire.

UV Light Test

Another effective way to test a sapphire stone at home is to use a UV light. A genuine sapphire will have a strong and consistent fluorescence under UV light. To perform this test, you will need a UV lamp which you can get for just a few dollars and a dark room.

Turn off all the lights in the room and point the UV lamp on the sapphire stone. A genuine sapphire will emit a strong blue fluorescence under UV light. If the stone does not fluoresce at all or emits a weak fluorescence, it can be a low-quality stone or entirely a different stone.

Water Test

Another simple way to test a sapphire stone at home is to perform a water test. This test is based on the fact that sapphires are denser than most other stones and will sink in water. To conduct this test, you will need a glass of water and the sapphire stone.

Drop the sapphire into the glass of water and observe what happens. A genuine sapphire will quickly sink to the bottom of the glass because of its high density. If the stone floats or sinks slowly, it may be a lower-quality sapphire or just a fake air-filled blue crystal.

Verify Certificates

If you have purchased a gemstone with authentic certificates, you can easily verify them online. A gemstone certificate comes with a way to check for authentication over the internet. Either you will find a QR code on it or a link to the website on which you can enter your certification number to cross-check.

Conclusion

In conclusion, testing a sapphire stone at home is a simple and effective way to ensure that it is genuine and of good quality. By performing a visual inspection, heat resistance test, magnifying glass inspection, UV light test, and water test, you can easily determine whether a sapphire is genuine or not. However, it is important to note that these tests are not foolproof and may not work for all varieties of sapphires. If you are unsure about the authenticity or quality of sapphire, the best way is to consult a professional gemologist or jeweler for further testing in a professional laboratory having advanced equipment.