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Sapphire and Aquamarine Optical Properties


Aquamarine and Sapphire Optical Properties


Optical Properties

Luster
Vitreous, Adamantine, Vitreous, Adamantine   
Vitreous   

Pleochroism
Strong   
Not Available   

Dispersion
0.02   
21
0.01   
26

Transparency
Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to opaque   
Transparent, Translucent, Transparent to translucent   

Refractive Index
1.762-1.788   
1.570-1.592   

Optic Character
Not Available   
Not Available   

Crystal System
Trigonal   
Hexagonal   

Birefringence
0.008-0.009   
0.005-0.009   

Clarity
Transparent   
Transparent to translucent   

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Sapphire and Aquamarine Optic Character

Sapphire and Aquamarine optical properties play a significant role while distinguishing these gemstones from each other. These properties are influenced by the Sapphire and Aquamarine Physical Properties like crystallographic symmetry, pleochroism,etc. in the crystal. Some of the optical properties are refractive index, luster, optic character, pleochroism etc. Prominent among these is Sapphire and Aquamarine optic character. You might have noticed your gemologist rotating the gemstone while testing it. Rotating a gemstone along its optic axis helps in determining its optic character.

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Sapphire and Aquamarine Transparency

Similar to their colors, Sapphire and Aquamarine transparency can also be used as criteria for their primary identification. Although transparency cannot be the only criteria for gemstone identification, it can efficiently used in gemstone grading. Talking about their transparency, Sapphire is Translucent, Transparent and Transparent to opaque while Sapphire is Translucent, Transparent and Transparent to opaque in appearance.

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