Nano sapphires, hydrothermal stones — what does this mean?

 Synthetic stones look and color very similar to natural, but another advantage is their low cost with their expensive counterparts.

In the jewelry market, You can easily find synthetic sapphires (the label will indicate "GT" or "C", i.e. synthetic).

The question often arises – how do synthetic and artificial sapphires differ from natural ones? How to distinguish a real mineral from an artificially grown one? What are their similarities and differences, how much do the prices of natural and synthetic stones differ?

Legend of origin

One of the legends of the gem's origin is associated with the Greek God of wine-making Dionysus. Once Dionysus was mad at people for what they have ceased to worship him. The enraged son of Zeus decided to take revenge on mortals, deciding that the first person he meets on his way will be mercilessly torn to pieces by tigers. The victim of the ferocious beasts was the beautiful nymph Amethyst, who was heading to the temple of the goddess of fertility Diana. Poor Amethyst began to beg the goddess for help. Hearing the nymph's pleas, Diana turned the Amethyst into a stone statue. Seeing all that was happening, Dionysus regretted his cruel decision. He began to pour wine over the statue, thinking that it would bring the unfortunate nymph back to life. But the statue remained stone, changing only the color. The stone absorbed the wine and turned a serene purple. That is why purple amethyst is the most common and well-known in nature. Another name for the gem is often found – "Bishop's stone". This is due to the fact that the clergy in the middle Ages paid quite a lot of attention to this crystal, decorating their clothes with it.

The so-called Dionysus stone is one of the most precious varieties of quartz. The crystal is highly valued among both jewelers and collectors. Even raw amethyst can attract with its beauty and amazing shade. It should be noted that the cost of a crystal depends not so much on the weight as on the color of the stone. The color palette of the mineral pleases jewelers with delicate and pure shades: from serene lilac to rich blue. Black amethyst is considered particularly rare.
 

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Features of nano sapphires and nano emeralds

Features of nano emeralds:

A synthetic emerald weighs much less than a real one. Also, the degree of refraction of light is significantly lower.
The cultivation of such a mineral occurs using a hydrothermal process, so when irradiated with ultraviolet light, they emit a red, luminescent color.
Synthetic crystals contain feathery inclusions, unlike those grown by nature.
When synthetic stone is processed, it may form a mirror crack that has an irregular shape.
With the help of smearing, you can increase the transparency of nano-sapphire.

Features of nano sapphires:

A softer stone compared to the real analog. If you hold a stone with a hardness of 8.5 on the moss scale on the surface of a nano sapphire, you will leave traces of scratches.
Do not have any cracks. If there are air bubbles, they have a spherical shape.
A series of curved stripes with different shades is visible.
Uneven color and has many different shades.

Synthetic amethyst

Jewelry with amethyst was in demand throughout the existence of the crystal. This is what prompted scientists to develop a technology for artificial cultivation of amethyst. Artificial gem is called synthetic. The crystals are placed in a special solution with iron ions, after which they are exposed to gamma radiation. The distinctive features of the artificial mineral are the curved surface and uneven color. The main advantage of artificial cultivation is that the stone increases its resistance to fading. Such gems are not very expensive.

Recently, it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish natural stone from artificial. Even if you know what a real Dionysus stone looks like, you can't completely tell the difference between an original and a fake just by looking at the crystal. But there are several obvious differences between a synthetic mineral and a real one: a natural mineral contains various inclusions, a real crystal lowered into water discolors at the edges, but an artificial one does not. If there is such a possibility, be sure to look at the crystal under the influence of ultraviolet light: natural stone will discolor evenly, and synthetic only in parts. You should also pay attention to the temperature of the stone: natural crystals have low thermal conductivity and take a long time to heat up in the hands, and artificial stone becomes warm much faster.

In the world of precious stones

Today, amethyst is a favorite and favorite of the most famous jewelry houses in the world. The incredible color and wedge-cut amethyst emphasize all the tenderness and uniqueness of the crystal. Among the beautiful half of humanity, the most popular gold jewelry with this mineral: intricate engagement rings, elegant bracelets and earrings. Amethyst in silver looks no less impressive. Especially luxurious and beautiful are small silver pendants with amethyst. The combination of silver and delicate crystal creates true tenderness. On the question of who is suitable for amethyst, it is quite difficult to give a definite answer, since the last decade the stone is popular with both women and men. Men's cufflinks with inserts of precious stones have become incredibly desirable and popular. That is why silver cufflinks with crystal blue amethysts can be a great gift.

The combination of amethyst with white gold or other equally luxurious precious stones looks quite impressive. Therefore, if you are thinking about giving your beloved an engagement ring made of white gold - you can not doubt and feel free to buy. Jewelry masters note that the most suitable gems are: diamond, rock crystal, aquamarine, ruby, and zircon. When wearing an engagement ring with amethyst, it is advisable to abandon clothing, accessories or shoes of purple color. The fascinating shade of the stone is self-sufficient and does not need to be accompanied by objects of the same color. It should be borne in mind that artificial light sources that change the color of the crystal are not always able to favorably emphasize the beauty of the mineral. Therefore, it is advisable to wear amethyst jewelry exclusively during the day. Great value of the stone for women who want to get rid of annoying suitors, as the crystal protects from unwanted attention. A small amethyst engagement ring is perfect for a woman born in the fall or winter.

Unfortunately, even the brightest and most luxurious crystals fade over time. To preserve the unique amethyst color for a long time, you need to protect the crystal from sunlight. Wash the gem with a soft soap solution 2 times a month. In any case, do not allow the interaction of amethyst with various aggressive substances.

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