Beyond Flawless: How Inclusions Tell the Story of a Sapphire

As a jeweller and gemologist, discovering new stones and adding them to our stone library is one of the most exciting parts of what I do. I recently received a new parcel of gems from one of our favourite gemstone mines in Sri Lanka, and one particular stone caught my eye. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about a fascinating aspect of natural gemstones that many people misunderstand: inclusions.

While a flawless, clear gemstone is often seen as the ideal, I want to show you how a gem's imperfections can be its most beautiful and revealing feature.

What Are Fingerprint Inclusions?

The stone I found is filled with a unique type of inclusion known as fingerprint inclusions. These are not just random flaws; they are a beautiful, wispy formation of microscopic liquid-filled tubes. They get their name from their wavy, fingerprint-like pattern. These inclusions are formed when a sapphire fractures and then heals or reforms over time, trapping tiny quantities of liquid in the process.

I personally find these formations to be mesmerising. They can add a soft, almost ethereal quality to the stone, making it far more visually complex than a perfectly clear gem.

Imperfections That Prove Authenticity

Inclusions like these are a huge help to a gemologist because they provide a definitive visual clue to the stone's authenticity and origin. When you see these particular fingerprint inclusions, it's a very strong indicator that the sapphire is natural and, more specifically, likely from Sri Lanka.

While these inclusions may be seen as imperfections -and technically, they are- they serve as a powerful proof of a stone’s natural origin. They show us that the gem was not created in a lab, but was a product of the earth, formed over millions of years.

Surface-Reaching Inclusions and Why They're Not Scratches

In some cases, these inclusions can reach the surface of the stone. When I tilt this sapphire in the light, you can see how some of the "lines" appear on the table, or top flat surface, of the gem. To the untrained eye, these might look like scratches, but they are not. No amount of polishing can remove them because they run all the way through the stone.

As a jewellery designer, I choose to work with these kinds of stones because their natural character tells a richer story. While a flawless gemstone has its own beauty, a stone with these unique inclusions is truly one of a kind.

Next time you're shopping for sapphire jewellery, don't shy away from a stone with inclusions. Ask your jewellery retailer about the story behind the gem's unique characteristics. A knowledgeable jeweller can explain how these "flaws" are actually a window into the stone's past, making it a truly personal and meaningful piece of fine jewellery.