Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Identifying a counterfeit
• Method 2 of 3: Identifying Synthetic Stone
• Method 3 of 3: Identifying other flaws
• Tips
• The things you need

While yellow sapphire is not as common or as highly prized as its blue counterpart, it is still considered a luxurious gem that can be a great addition to your jewelry collection. The stone also has a special meaning for Hindu or Vedic astrology. Regardless of why you choose yellow sapphire, learn how you can test the stone to ensure it is authentic, natural, and relatively flawless. This is an important step that you must take before purchasing a stone.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Identifying a counterfeit

1. 1 Compare a yellow sapphire with a piece of yellow glass. Most fake sapphires are made of glass. While yellow glass may look like yellow sapphire at first glance, they are very different from each other. In general, amber glass tends to be too large and too bright to be a real stone.
2. 2 Look closely for tiny bubbles. Sapphires may have multiple internal inclusions, but high quality yellow sapphires have no inclusions visible to the naked eye. Fake sapphires, on the other hand, often have tiny bubbles inside the stone.
3. 3 Check for scratches. Sapphires of any color are very heavy. A diamond, the hardest gemstone, reaches 10 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, while sapphire reaches 9 on the same scale. Thus, very few materials can scratch a sapphire very far. Glass, by contrast, has a hardness between 5.5 and 6 and is much easier to scratch. The glass surface of the imitation yellow sapphire often has many scratches, while the real sapphire has few or none at all.
4. 4 Pay attention to the edges. Since glass is not as strong as sapphire, it is easier to cut. Yellow glass stones are fairly easy to cut and tend to have smooth, rounded edges. On the other hand, yellow sapphires are characterized by more complex, sharper and sharper edges.

Method 2 of 3: Identifying Synthetic Stone

1. 1 Pay attention to the edges. Small natural yellow sapphires can be cut in almost any cut. When it comes to stones weighing more than one carat, many jewelers choose to cut sapphires in oval or cushion cut. Since round and emerald cuts are considered the most popular, jewelers often cut synthetic stones in these shapes. Natural sapphires, in theory, can also be processed in such a cut, but this is already a rarity.
2. 2 Stay away from the "X" shape. Manufacturers of synthetic stones often use an "X" cut, also called scissors.
3. 3 Avoid grooves. Sometimes, the edges of synthetic stones are not as sharp as the edges of natural sapphire. This defect is very similar to the grooves, similar to the texture of a vinyl record. However, they can usually be seen under 10x magnification of a magnifying glass.
4. 4 Check the stone under a magnifying glass. A good artificial stone can have imperfections that are only visible under 10x 30x magnification. At low, 10x magnification, curved, grooved banding can usually be seen in synthetic sapphires, especially when a craftsman inserts a piece of translucent glass between the stone and the light source. High, 30x magnification can detect bubbles and clumps of powder that has not completely dissolved.

Method 3 of 3: Identifying other flaws

1. 1 Check for seals. As with any gemstone, yellow sapphire sometimes contains inclusions and unwanted cavities within the stone. When a jewelry cutter goes through one of these imperfections, a tiny hole can be created. Most jewelers prefer to leave a hole in the stone rather than cut it off completely, but unscrupulous jewelers sometimes fill the cavities in the stone with glass or shards to add weight and create the illusion that the stone is of much better quality. Consider a stone under a beam of light, shining light on it. Typically, this test will show all flawed spots.
2. 2 Stay informed about foil lining on stones. The foil reflects more light, making the yellow sapphire brighter and enhancing the shine of the jewelry. The lining is difficult to see if the stone is already in the setting, but if you look closely at the stone under a magnifying glass, you can often see the foil. What's more, this kind of tampering is most common in antique jewelry, which means you don't have to worry about it when buying a new piece.
3. 3 Don't forget about the frame. If you are in doubt about the seller from whom you are planning to buy the jewel, consider buying individual stones or stones that show their underside. False nails, half frames, and channel settings are good examples of frames. On the other hand, closed frames, such as a clip-on bezel, are often used by fraudsters to hide flaws and evidence of deception.
4. 4 Pay attention to the color. True yellow sapphires are pure yellow, but similar, less valuable imitations often have several shades at once. Citrine has a slight green tint, golden topaz has clear signs of orange and yellow, and tourmaline has a brighter, lemon-like hue.
5. 5 Request a certificate. While a certificate does not give you the same assurance as checking the stone directly, you may feel better if you know that the stone has been tested and approved by an official, reliable organization. Browse certifications from national gem societies such as the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Association.

Tips

• Buy jewelry exclusively from reputable dealers. The best way to protect yourself from counterfeits, synthetic stones and hidden defects is to buy a yellow sapphire from a seller you can trust with confidence. Large jewelry suppliers are often considered reliable, as are jewelers who work individually as long as they are members of the official gemological community.

The things you need

• Magnifier or any other magnifying glass