It is typically blue, but natural "fancy" sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors; "parti sapphires" show two or more colors. Red corundum stones also occur, but are called rubies not sapphires. Pink-colored corundum may be classified either as ruby or sapphire depending on locale.

What does a natural sapphire look like?

Sapphires are typically thought of as blue but can also be red, yellow, orange, green or other colors in between. Natural sapphires are found in the ground or in the water. ... Look for air bubbles, try the scratch test, and shine a light through the gem to spot a fake sapphire.

How can you tell if its a real sapphire?

Look for Flaws

Use a magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe to check for impurities and flaws within your sapphire. Check for small flaws or specks within the stone. These are an indication that your stone is real. Lab-created sapphires are generally flawless in their composition.