COLLECTION OF SYNTHETIC RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES

COLLECTION OF SYNTHETIC RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES
 
Red, yellow and blue varieties of corundum created artificially

Ruby and sapphire are both varieties of the mineral corundum. Red corundum is called ruby, while all other colours of gem-quality corundum, including yellow and colourless, are called sapphire.

In 1902, the French chemist Auguste Verneuil invented the first commercially viable process for the manufacture of synthetic gemstones. Known as the Verneuil process, it remains in use today as an inexpensive means of making artificial rubies and sapphires.

The process involves melting a finely powdered substance and crystallising the melted droplets into a cylindrical shape known as a boule. Depending on the desired colouration, small quantities of various oxides are added.  Although created artificially, inside the boule is the natural crystal structure of corundum. It is almost chemically and physically identical to natural crystals and strong magnification is required to distinguish between the two.