Ask yourself: Fake Real Does it have flaws? Using a jeweler’s 10x magnifying glass, inspect the gem. Lab-made sapphires do not have specks and blemishes. Natural sapphires should have small specks and blemishes. Does it pass the breath test? Breathe on the sapphire to fog it up. Fake sapphires will take around 5 seconds to clear. It should take 1-2 seconds for natural gems to clear. Does it have air bubbles? Inspect the gem from all angles. Gems created in labs will contain tiny air bubbles because they’re made of glass. Real sapphires will not have any air bubbles. Does it pass the scratch test? If you have 2 sapphires and you know 1 is real, use it to scratch the second. A fake sapphire is able to be scratched and will show a mark. Sapphires are extremely hard and will easily leave a scratch on other gems but unable to be scratched themselves. Does it pass the light test? Turn the lights off and shine a flashlight on the sapphire. Being made of glass, lab-made sapphires will reflect a spectrum of colors. Real sapphires only reflect light that is the same color as the mineral. *Consult a gemologist for a professional opinion on your sapphire's authenticity if you're unsure or can't figure it out on your own.