Nature has a remarkable way of capturing beauty in all its forms, and one of its most captivating creations is the green sapphire. With its enchanting hue and mesmerising properties, the green sapphire stands as a testament to the wonders of our planet's geological processes. In this blog post, we'll dive deep into the world of green sapphires, exploring their origin, characteristics, symbolism, and how they've captured the hearts of gem enthusiasts around the globe.
The Science Behind Lab-Grown Green Sapphires
Lab Sapphires (also called "Synthetic Sapphires") are chemically identical to a natural Sapphire. Depending on the production method, they might be a tiny bit different under 50x magnification, but with other methods, they are 100% identical. They won't look fake or tacky - the biggest factor that goes into a gemstone's appearance is the choice of cut/design and the quality of the cutting.
The Two Methods Stag & Finch Uses:
The Czochralski Pulled method uses a tiny starter crystal that is dipped into a solution and very, very slowly pulled out. This process is so slow, that it only produces Sapphire at a rate of 2mm/hour, but results in a lab-created gemstone that has the same optical properties and hardness as its mined counterpart. The brightness of our Sapphire is RI 1.76-1.77, identical to other sapphire colours.
The Flame Fusion method was one of the first commercially successful methods to be developed. It involves dropping powdered chemicals through a high-temperature flame where it melts, and falls onto a rotating pedestal, growing the sapphire drop by drop. This process takes much less time than the Czochralski Pulled method, but does have the possibility of creating gems with colour zoning.
The Origins of Green Sapphire: Nature's Masterpiece
Sapphires are a variety of the mineral corundum, and their colour is primarily attributed to trace elements present during their formation. While blue sapphires might be the most famous and sought-after, green sapphires offer a unique and distinct allure. The green colour in these gems is the result of iron and titanium trace elements interacting with the crystal lattice structure of corundum.
Green sapphires are typically found in a range of green shades, from a delicate pastel green to a deep forest green. Their colour can be influenced by various factors, including the concentration of trace elements, the presence of other minerals during their formation, and the geological conditions that shaped them. The most prized green sapphires exhibit a vivid and evenly distributed colour, captivating the observer with their natural beauty.