Seylan Gems & Jewelry
Apatite is bought for a neon blue, green, or yellow that few other gems show at the same price. The same softness that keeps the price down is the reason it should not be treated like sapphire.
Specifications
Typical published ranges used in gemology. Specific gravity below matches our carat calculator default where applicable. (SG 3.00)
| Hardness (Mohs) | About 5 |
|---|---|
| Refractive index | About 1.63–1.65 |
| Optic character | Doubly refractive |
| Specific gravity | About 3.2 |
| Chemistry | A phosphate mineral; color from trace elements |
| Lustre | Vitreous to resinous |
Blue apatite can look a little like a Paraiba tourmaline in a thumbnail. It is not tourmaline, and it is not sapphire. The species name on the listing is the fact that keeps the price honest.
Look for a color that stays bright face-up, not a stone that only glows when the light is behind it.
Hardness about 5 means quartz dust in daily life can scratch it. A pendant or earrings are kinder than a ring that meets a countertop. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steam.
If we set one, ask us about a protective mounting. Beauty is not the same as durability.
No. Paraiba is a copper-bearing tourmaline. Apatite can be a similar color and a very different mineral, hardness, and price.
Our carat tool does not have an apatite preset. The listing weight is the number to trust. A rough estimate needs a specific gravity near 3.2, not the sapphire default.
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