Colors & Clarity of Lab Grown Sapphire
Lab-grown sapphires exhibit the full spectrum of captivating hues found in nature, from the classic, coveted royal blue to vibrant pinks, yellows, and greens. Their controlled growth environment allows for consistent and intense color saturation, ensuring every stone radiates rich vibrancy. In terms of clarity, lab-grown sapphires often boast superior transparency with very few, if any, visible inclusions, unlike many natural sapphires which frequently have internal characteristics. This exceptional clarity and color combination enhance their brilliance and fire, offering stunning beauty at an accessible price point.
How to Care for your Lab Grown Sapphire
Caring for your lab-grown sapphire jewelry is straightforward, thanks to its exceptional durability. Clean your sapphire pieces regularly using warm, soapy water and a soft brush, ensuring a thorough rinse to maintain their brilliant sparkle. While lab-grown sapphires are incredibly hard (9 on the Mohs scale), it's still advisable to avoid exposing them to harsh chemicals or sudden, extreme temperature changes, which could potentially harm the metal setting. Always store your sapphire jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined box to prevent scratches to other pieces and preserve its pristine beauty.
Understanding the Growth Methods of Lab Grown Sapphire
Lab-grown sapphires are meticulously created using sophisticated methods that mirror the natural geological processes. The most common techniques include the Flux-grown method, where sapphire crystals slowly crystallize from a molten solution over months, often yielding stones with high clarity. Another prominent method is the Czochralski (Pulled) method, which involves pulling a crystal from a molten sapphire melt, allowing for faster growth of larger crystals. The Verneuil (Flame Fusion) process is also used, producing less expensive sapphires quickly. All these controlled environments ensure the resulting lab-grown sapphires possess identical chemical, physical, and optical properties to their earth-mined counterparts.
Understanding the Pricing of Lab Grown Sapphire
Understanding the pricing of lab-grown sapphire reveals a distinct value proposition compared to earth-mined varieties. Their cost is primarily determined by the intensity and saturation of their color (with vibrant blues and vivid fancy colors commanding the highest prices), as well as their clarity and carat weight. Due to controlled growth, lab-grown sapphires often achieve exceptional clarity with fewer inclusions than natural stones. The absence of a rarity premium associated with unpredictable mining means lab-grown sapphires offer consistent high quality and stunning beauty at a considerably more accessible price point.
