Gold Sheen Sapphire Article on GIT Gem and Jewelry Magazine
The corundum gems such as ruby, sapphire, and other colored sapphires have been popular for a long time. Apart from the group of clean and clear stone, there is another very popular group of stones which have exhibited various optical phenomena, such as star and color change. Mr. Tanzim Khan Malik, the owner of Genuine Gems & Jewellery Co., Ltd., is the leader in introducing sapphires with the new appearance of gold sheen phenomena due to the reflection of light from many metallic mineral inclusions within the stones.
Nowadays, gemstones with this phenomena are sold in the market as “Golden Sheen Sapphire” and becoming well-known in the jewelry market. These sapphires were introduced to the market by Mr.Tanzim Khan Malik at Hong Kong Jewelry and Gem Fair, September 2015, under the name of “Golden Sheen Sapphire”. He claimed this particular gem to be found, since 2009, around the eastern part of Kenya near the border of Somalia, in Africa. The intensive improvement of the cutting techniques accumulated for years by him has brought the beauty of the sheen effect to these sapphires. These gems have been popular among the buyers from Europe (United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany), Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, China and India) also America and Australia.
The prominent colors of Golden sheen are golden-yellow and blue with a golden glow. At present, The export percentages for this kind of gem in each continent is 40% Europe, 40% America, and approximately 20% Asia, according to Mr. Tanzim Khan Malik. These sapphires are most often found with a golden-yellow body color. However, the stone have also been found in greenish, yellowish, grayish and blueish color.
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The chemical composition is Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) with a Hardness of 9 according to the Mohs scale, specific gravity (S.G.) of approximately 4, and a refractive index (R.I.) of 1.770 – 1.762. The quality of this kind of gem depends on the Sheen effects caused by the reflection of lights on internal metallic inclusions. The cut must be only in the right angel to exhibit the sheen. Then, the color of the gemstone is next considered. The golden-yellow is the most desirable, especially in Asian countries. Furthermore, besides of sheen sapphire, some star sapphires can be found as well.
Currently, the quality of Gold Sheen Sapphire doesn’t have an internationally recognized standard of evaluation. That means, sales and purchases of this kind of gem, at present, depend on the favor and the satisfaction of both buyers and sellers. For ensuring buyers and seller’s confidence, GIT Gem Testing Laboratory can issue a certificate of examination results as shown.
Interested Readers can find more information by contacting GIT Gem Testing Laboratory, The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), 4th Floor, ITF Tower, Silom Road, Suriyawong, Bangrak, Bangkok, 10500, or for more information, please call +66 2634-4999 ext.
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A beautiful article by Gemological institute of America on Gold sheen Sapphire
Article in Polish Language Polish Gem and Jewelry Magazine
The Journal of Gemmology Article of gold Sheen Sapphire
A Very interesting article from Gem and jewelry magazine describing the gold sheen sapphire
The Remarkable Abilities Of Gold Sheen Sapphires
As the saying goes, “All that glitters is not gold”. The same holds for comparisons between Brown Sapphires and Gold Sheen Sapphires or Golden Sheen Sapphires. Brown Sapphires can sometimes exhibit a gold sheen, but this is a rare occurrence as a result of crystal morphology and unique characteristics based on needles and platelets. Gold Sheen Sapphires themselves are a rare commodity in the gem world and one in which clarity of the stone is irrelevant, what matters is its opacity and color based on its mineral content.
Gold Sheen Sapphires while retaining properties of Sapphires in general, predominantly in terms of color such as blue, clear or fancy, are much more unique in terms of their geometrical patterns. These naturally occurring patterns such as parallel, partial or full hex give the stone its unique structure as well as visual appeal. The luster of gold sheen sapphires is also a huge factor in its overall attractiveness for jewelry makers. Common variations of color include brass, copper, and bronze while metallic green, blue and yellow are also exhibited in some cases.
What Is Gold Sheen Effect
The GIA testing lab in Bangkok was the first to verify the “gold sheen effect” of this stone and classified the color as being “brown, with a gold sheen effect” of a true sapphire. This immediately set it apart from brown sapphires with similar characteristics. It has inclusions of ilmenite and hematite and exhibits asterism and hexagonal growth. Gemological labs around the world categorize it as corundum and describe the gold sheen effect as being unique to gold sheen sapphires.
Gold Sheen Sapphires do not have any known heating or treatment methods and any treatment diminishes the gold sheen effect of the stone. Favored by high-end jewelry retailers and also specialty jewelry designers, Gold Sheen Sapphires have gained market prominence in the last 6-7 years. Some of the gold sheen sapphires have blue and yellow stripes giving them an artistic vision. The golden-brown shimmer of these unique stones makes them ideal for manufacturing jewelry pieces complementing the everyday ensemble.
Another unique rare occurrence that sets apart gold sheen sapphire is the “Aurora” effect as noted by its discoverer, Tanzim Khan. Mr. Tanzim Khan is the original authority of these stones, having discovered the mine in Kenya in 2010 from where the stone originates. The interplay of blue and green colors exhibited in some stones when passing through light creates a vision akin to the “Aurora Borealis”.
The richness of the hexagonal patterns and craze lines give it the most prominent sheen exhibited among any of the sapphire family stones. The inclusions on the stone have a story to narrate, so much so that light at different angles projects different characteristics of the gold sheen sapphire. Gold Sheen sapphires have this rare and unique combination of features, that make it a remarkable stone. It’s difficult to describe the beauty of this stone, one has to see it and experience its charm.
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