synthetic sapphires

---

Not only are synthetic, lab-created sapphires a more affordable alternative to natural sapphires in jewelry, but they also have commercial uses, as well.

Watch crystals and grocery store scanners benefit from the scratch-resistant properties of synthetic sapphire.

Below is a list of the different types of synthetic sapphires.

synthetic sapphires

flame fusion (melt process)

Photo courtesy of Lotus Gemology

Curved striae under magnification & diffused lighting (often confused with polish marks)

Gas bubbles (strings of gas bubbles may resemble broken silk)

flux grown (solution process)

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Flux inclusions are generally white and high-relief, but can appear near-colorless, whitish, brownish, or yellow to orange

Flux might appear as two-phase, wispy veils that look like natural fingerprints or as coarse globules that might appear drippy, tubular, rod-like, icicle-like, or as droplets, dashed lines or clouds of minute particles

Sharp-edged triangular or hexagonal platelets, or stubby, needle-like metallic inclusions (usually platinum) strongly indicate synthetic

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

hydrothermal (solution process)

Chevron-shaped or wavy, undulating growth zoning

pulled & floating zone (melt process)

Often nearly inclusion free

​Faint curved striae

​Gas bubbles

Smoke-like, swirling, veil-like inclusions

Swirls of color