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Color Change Sapphire Information |
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THE ALTERNATE BIRTHSTONE for AUGUST |
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MOH's scale of hardness : 9 |
Toughness : Excellent |
Refractive Index : 1.762-1.770 (+.009, -.005) |
Specific Gravity : 4.00 (+.10,-.05) |
A color change Gemstone is one that changes from one color to another due to a change in the light source. The color change can be a subtle change in hue, to a dramatic blue to purple color change. The color change comes about in a Gemstone due to the atomic structure of the stone. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight or fluorescent light excite the atoms in a color change Gem, but artificial (incandescent) light does not. Sapphire is one of the few Gemstones that can have a color change. The more dramatic the color change, the rarer and more expensive the stone. Color Change Sapphire is very difficult to find, especially in larger sizes. No matter what size the stone, these Sapphires are considered to be rare. The largest Color Change Sapphire I have seen was a little over 25 carats, but this was many years ago, during the past five years the largest I have found was just under 8 carats. Color Change Sapphire is a phenomenon gemstone, similar to Alexandrite, and is sometimes even found as Color Change Star Sapphire, which is even more of a phenomenon gemstone than a faceted gem. Our source for fine Color Changing Sapphire is Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), known for producing the finest variety of Sapphire available. Fine Color Change Sapphires are highly valued Collectors Gemstones. TREATMENTS - Color Change Sapphire is not typically treated with 'heat' or any other treatment to enhance the color or alter the clarity. If a Color Change Sapphire were to be heated it would alter the color changing properties within the gem, thus rendering it worth far less than it is as a natural non-heated non-treated top quality Color Changing Sapphire. |