Treatment FAQ

what is chatham treatment in gemstones

by Javon Olson IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Chatham does not “make” gems, rather, they control the environment so that crystals can grow naturally by recreating the conditions in which gems grow in the earth. These gemstones have the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined gems do.

Full Answer

Why Chatham gemstones?

Through technical refinement and innovation, Chatham strives to offer gemstones that are sustainably grown to perfection. Chatham's goal is to be the world's leader in laboratory grown gemstone and diamond jewelry revered for its superior quality, distinctive design and crafting excellence.

What is @Chatham?

Chatham's goal is to be the world's leader in laboratory grown gemstone and diamond jewelry revered for its superior quality, distinctive design and crafting excellence. When life calls for meaning and sparkle, think gems.

What are treated gemstones?

Any special care instructions for these treated gems are also provided. – a chemical used to alter / reduce a component of, or the entire color, of a porous gem. Some gemstones are bleached and then dyed, a form of “combination treatment.” 1. The most commonly encountered bleached gems include:

What is gemstone diffusion treatment?

The most extensively studied gemstone diffusion treatment involves the migration of the element beryllium into sapphire. The result creates a new color in the material, frequently orange but also blue, yellow, or red. In large stones, you can see the altered color zone as a surface layer through immersion in a refraction liquid.

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Are Chatham gemstones real?

Yes. In fact , Chatham stones are more durable because they have fewer inclusions than most of their mined counterparts. The hardness of Chatham's stones are exactly the same as their mined counterparts. In addition, Chatham's Lifetime Warranty is something you will not find for any mined gemstone.

What is a Chatham stone?

These laboratory grown gemstones are physically, optically and chemically identical to their mined counterparts. The only difference is that the gem growing process takes place above the ground, rather than below. Our technology allows us to provide gemstones at a fraction of the price.

Are Chatham sapphires good?

They grow in the natural crystal habit, shown left, in a controlled environment. Because they are carefully grown, you can expect your Chatham created blue sapphire to have gorgeous color and consistent quality. All Chatham sapphires are gem quality with no inclusions visible to the naked eye.

Are Chatham rubies good?

For most of recorded history, rubies have been the most valuable gems. Chatham's lab-grown rubies have a pigeon's blood color and a clarity seen in only the very best mined gems.

What color is Chatham stone?

SMARTCORE 10-Piece 12-in x 24-in Chatham Stone Interlocking or Glue (Adhesive) Luxury Vinyl TileSeries NameN/AColor/Finish FamilyGrayFor Use Over Cork UnderlaymentNoActual Thickness (Millimeters)6.5Finish TypeDark43 more rows

What are Chatham emeralds?

Chatham created emeralds have the color of the finest Colombian emeralds… gorgeous green with bluish undertones. They are not imitation emeralds, rather they are REAL emeralds carefully grown in their natural crystal habit, shown left. Most emeralds on the market today are cloudy and not very attractive.

Are Chatham sapphires real?

Chatham's lab-grown blue sapphires have a velvety blue color and pure clarity seen in only the best mined gems. Blue sapphire is the most difficult gem crystal that Chatham grows.

What is a Chatham sapphire?

Lab grown Chatham Blue Sapphire is the gem of truth and loyalty, which makes this gemstone a perfect choice. The rich velvety blue of twilight, sapphire is a peaceful color you'll never get tired of seeing. Chatham's lab grown blue sapphires have a silky blue color and pure clarity seen in only the best of mined gems.

What is a Chatham Alexandrite?

Lab grown Chatham Alexandrite is an emerald by day, ruby by night. Alexandrite's are a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color from bluish-green in daylight to purplish-red in incandescent light.

How can I tell if my ruby is synthetic?

Chemical traces are left in the stone of a lab-created ruby and this is not seen in natural rubies. Minimal internal flaws, higher quality at a lower price and a larger ruby for the same price as a smaller one will tell you that it is synthetic.

Is a lab-created ruby a real ruby?

Lab-created rubies, also known as created, lab-grown, synthetic, cultured or man-made rubies, are gemstones grown in laboratories with human aid under controlled environments. They have identical chemical compositions to their natural counterparts (Al2O3) and the same optical and physical properties.

Why are some rubies so cheap?

Since natural rubies are rare, they're also expensive. Generally, synthetic rubies run about 20% cheaper than natural rubies do. Imitations and fakes tend to be 90% cheaper than natural rubies. So, if someone is trying to sell you a ruby at a low price, there's a good chance you're getting an imitation or fake.

Lab-grown gemstones

For green-minded and budget savvy consumers, we’re proud to offer you eco-friendly Chatham created gems for your jewelry piece. Chatham created gems are real gems naturally grown in a controlled environment.

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Who is the author of Gem Treatments?

An Introduction to Gem Treatments. Robert Weldon. As a consumer, you will regularly encounter in the marketplace gems that have been treated to change their appearance. A topic that often comes up is whether a particular gemstone is or isn’t treated. In a sense, humans alter all gem materials after they are found in the earth in order ...

Why do people alter gemstones?

In a sense, humans alter all gem materials after they are found in the earth in order to prepare them for use in jewelry. Natural gem crystals are transformed from their rough crystallographic form into the shapes, outlines, and degrees of polish in the gemstones that we appreciate and wear in jewelry.

What is the chemical used to alter / reduce a component of, or the entire color, of a por

Bleaching. – a chemical used to alter / reduce a component of, or the entire color, of a porous gem. Some gemstones are bleached and then dyed, a form of “combination treatment.”. 1. The most commonly encountered bleached gems include:

Why is it necessary to disclose gems?

Because these treatments are not always apparent to the unpracticed eye, and are sometimes difficult to distinguish even by experts, it is necessary and legally required for anyone selling a gem (including consumer to consumer trade) to disclose the treatment procedure it may have received.

Is a gemstone treatment permanent?

Non-disclosure of this treatment could cause a person to believe that a particular gemstone was of higher quality naturally and therefore be more valuable than it actually is. An added challenge is that treatments can be permanent, long lasting, or short-lived under normal jewelry use.

Can you remove dye from a gem?

Many dyes can be removed if the gem comes into contact with a solvent such as alcohol or acetone. Some dyes are unstable with exposure to the ultraviolet in sunlight and can fade over time. 3. Detectability –A qualified gemologist can detect dyed gems in most cases.

What is green amethyst?

Although amethyst may turn brownish or red at a temperature between 400 and 500° C, sometimes it turns a green color. While such heated gems are sometimes called “greened amethyst” or “green amethyst,” these are misnomers. Green quartz is properly known as prasiolite.

How does smoky quartz turn into amethyst?

Specially prepared smoky quartz can turn into amethyst via gamma-ray bombardment. In fact, it appears likely that natural amethyst acquires its color in the same manner. Gamma irradiation plus heating of some Brazilian quartz produces a bright, greenish yellow color not found in nature.

What color does tourmaline turn?

Heating usually lightens the color of tourmaline but can also sometimes turn a dark green stone an attractive, emerald-like color. Gamma irradiation of tourmaline produces spectacular color changes. Pale pink and some colorless stones may turn dark pink.

What is green quartz?

Green quartz is properly known as prasiolite. Further heating of these gems causes a complete loss of color. Irradiation plus heating may also produce brown, orange, and yellow hues in quartz. The heating of amethyst to a brownish yellow color occurs on a commercial scale.

What is the color of a gemstone?

The most extensively studied gemstone diffusion treatment involves the migration of the element beryllium into sapphire. The result creates a new color in the material, frequently orange but also blue, yellow, or red. In large stones, you can see the altered color zone as a surface layer through immersion in a refraction liquid. However, in small stones, the beryllium may penetrate through the entire body, so they have no visible color zones.

How rare is aquamarine?

Dark blue aquamarine is quite rare and very costly. Many of the dark stones seen in jewelry are produced by heating greenish or brownish material to a temperature of 400-450°C. The treatment results in a permanent color change.

Can you re-oil an emerald stone?

Eventually, the oil evaporates and escapes, so the stone returns to its original, visibly flawed condition. However, it can be re-oiled again and again. Fillers such as epoxy and polymer offer a more permanent fix.

What stone is used to change the color of the surface?

Nowadays, this method is used to change the color of ruby, green topaz, and blue sapphire. Usually the original material is a pale or almost colorless stone that is treated to change the color of the surface.

How to treat star sapphire?

Diffusion treatment is a popular method for treating star sapphire, since the treatment will increase the asterism (the star effect in sapphire and ruby ). The diffusion process may reach a depth of half a millimeter into the gemstone. The process enhances the star effect on the gemstone and the stone can be sold as a diffused star sapphire.

What is diffusion treatment?

Diffusion Treatment. A treatment that one should be aware and cautious of is dif fusion treatment. There is some controversy surrounding this method of treatment. Diffusion treatment consists of exposing the surface of a stone to certain chemicals combined with high heat in a furnace.

What happens if you slice a gem in half?

Generally, only the surface color changes, so if you sliced the gem in half, the inside of the stone would be a different color, usually a paler, less valuable color. The problem is that the new surface color is not very deep, only about half a millimeter.

Can you polish a star sapphire?

A sapphire made into a diffused star sapphire cannot be polished for a second time or recut, as the treatment is only on the surface of the stone. Polishing or recutting would remove this surface treatment. However, most buyers never repolish or recut the gemstones set in jewelry.

Can a diffused star sapphire be polished?

A sapphire made into a diffused star sapphire cannot be polished for a second time or recut, ...

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