neil cohen, gemologist appraiser, connecticut

 

 

 

 

Sapphire

 

Color: Red, blue, orange, pink, yellow, clear, about any color


Moh’s Hardness: 8.5-9


Refractive Index: 1.766-1.774


Critical Angle: 34.62°


Specific Gravity: 3.99-4.01


Cleavage: None


Fracture: Conchoidal


Dispersion: Medium (.013)


Heat Sensitivity: Can be... but is usually not a problem


Dichroism: strong, especially in darker colors


Birefringence (double refraction): Weak (.018)


Crystal structure: Hexagonal, trigonal, dipyramidal

 

Treatments: Assume about any Sapphire you see has been heated unless otherwise noted from the supplier. Heat treating is used to reduce silk and improve colors and generally considered a standard practice.

 

 

 

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