What is a diffusion of a gemstone?
Diffusion is a technique whereby certain natural elements, those used in nature when colouring allochromatic gems, are placed on the surface of the gem during the heating process and the colour is diffused into the gem.
What is diffusion-treated?
What is Treatment Diffusion? Treatment diffusion is where the control group is affected by the treatment. This could happen because individuals in the control groups and treatment groups talk to each other about the treatment.Dec 27, 2016
Are diffused sapphires worthless?
Sapphires that have obtained their color from diffusion treatments have little intrinsic value. Reputable dealers will identify diffusion-treated sapphires and offer them at prices well below those of natural, untreated stones.
What does a diffused sapphire mean?
Blue diffusion-treated sapphires are be- coming more prevalent than ever before. The diffusion technique, which involves the addition of color-causing chemicnls during heat trentment, results in a thin layer of color at the surface of colorless or light-colored sapphire.
How do you find the diffusion treatment of sapphires?
0:442:29How To Detect Diffusion Treatment In Sapphires In 30 Seconds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can start to make calls if the Safari is treated with the fusion treatment. You will likely seeMoreYou can start to make calls if the Safari is treated with the fusion treatment. You will likely see a concentration of color on the edges of the stone. And the stones facets like this stone over here.
What is beryllium treated sapphire?
Beryllium treatment is a form of heat treatment, mainly for sapphire, that adds the element beryllium to the heating process. Beryllium is a well-known element in the gem world, since it is an essential constituent of many gemstones, including emerald, beryl, aquamarine and chrysoberyl.Sep 12, 2006
Why are gemstones heat treated?
Heat Treatment is a gemstone's exposure to high temperatures that alters the color and increases the clarity. Specifically, heating is used to lighten, darken or enrich the color. Without heat treated gemstones, fine gems' availability in the most desirable colors would be scarce.Mar 19, 2021
What is natural diffusion sapphire?
This technique involves adding colouring chemicals during heat treatment which produces a thin layer of colour on the surface of colourless or light- coloured natural sapphire. The process involves the diffusion of colour-causing transition element(s), such as Ti and possibly Fe, into the stone surface at very high ...Oct 26, 2019
What is unheated blue sapphire?
Unheated sapphires mean the sapphire is natural and it has not been enhanced by any form of heat treatment or any other treatment.
Is beryllium treatment permanent?
Lattice-diffused sapphires are now common in the market, especially in the yellow color range where the treatment is able to produce sapphires with a vivid yellow that is very rare in nature. The treatment is stable and permanent and gems treated by this method require no special treatment.
How can I tell if my sapphire is real?
To identify if the sapphire is real, stay in total darkness and use a flashlight to test it. If the stone is genuine, light of the same color as the sapphire is reflected. If it is a fake sapphire jewel (usually made of glass) you will be able to see other colors in the crystal.
Why are sapphires heat treated?
Heat Treating sapphires is a standard industry practice that improves the clarity and enhances the color of sapphires from Gem Mountain. Most people prefer the darker color saturation and improved clarity and brilliance of a heat treated stone over the pale pastel color of the average rough sapphire.
What is the Federal Trade Commission?
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission has established a set of consumer guidelines outlining the need for treatment disclosures and special care requirements, and countries around the world either adhere to similar guidelines, or have regulations of their own.
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:
What is surface coating?
– altering a gem’s appearance by applying a coloring agent like paint to the back surfaces of gems (a treatment known as “backing”), or paint applied as a coating to all or a portion of a gemstone’s surface with the effect of altering the color . 1.
What color is tanzanite?
Tanzanite – Though rarely used, tanzanites have been coated to improve the intensity of their blue-violet color. Classic tanzanite exhibits a deep, purplish blue color (left). Pale tanzanite, and other pale stone species are sometimes coated with an ink-like substance to try to deepen and improve their color (right).
What is a cavity filling?
– filling surface-reaching fractures or cavities with a glass, resin, wax or oil to conceal their visibility and to improve the apparent clarity of gem materials, appearance, stability, or in extreme cases—to add to a slight amount of weight to a gem.
What is the second step of gem treatment?
This is sometimes followed by a heat treatment to further modify the color. This second step also known as a “combination treatment .
What color is coral?
(You can learn more about jade treatments here ). Dyes can give coral a more desirable (typically red) color. Black coral can be bleached to produce a “golden” material.
How is black onyx made?
“Black onyx” is made by soaking grayish colored chalcedony in a sugar solution and then blackening in sulfuric acid. This process leaves very tiny particles of carbon in the pore spaces of the chalcedony.
Is topaz a color?
Topaz, for example, occurs in various colors. Pale blue topaz isn’t uncommon, but deep, intense blue stones don’t occur in nature. However, gamma irradiation of certain colorless topaz can produce such gems. This treatment turns the material greenish brown, but then heating produces a rich blue color. Some golden or yellow topaz can be heated to yield a pink or purplish red color.
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.
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.
What color is Tanzanite?
Heating certain crystals, which eliminates the red-violet color component, produces the lively sapphire-blue color that has made the gem so popular.
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.
Setting Up
This inspection process is simple. First, you need a substage, diffused light source. A microscope, polariscope, or even a flashlight will do. If you don’t have a frosted glass plate, simply lay a tissue over the light.
Examine Your Gem
Once you’ve set up your equipment, immerse the gem in the fluid and examine it.
What is a gemstone treatment?
Treatment refers to any process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance of the color or clarity, or that are used to alter the appearance (color, clarity or phenomena), durability, value, or supply of a gemstone. Today, most gems are treated to improve appearance. Treatment processes can consist of heat, ...
What is dyeing gemstones?
Dyeing refers to one of the oldest treatments recorded. The treatment involves the introduction of a coloring agent into a gemstone to give it a new color, intensify an existing color or improve color uniformity.
What is the process of irradiating a gemstone?
Irradiation refers to the use of neutrons, gamma, and/or electron bombardment to alter a gemstone’s color. The irradiation stage of the process is then usually followed by a heating phase to effect the change. Blue topaz is typically produced by irradiation.
What is oiling a gem?
Oiling refers to a filling of surface reaching cracks or fissures in a gem with a colorless oil or resin, wax or other substance except glass or plastic, to improve the gemstone’s appearance. The purpose is to diminish the visibly of fractures and thus improve transparency in the stone. The treatment is usually not permanent.
What is clarity enhancement?
Clarity enhancement/Fracture filling refers to the filling of surface breaking fractures or fissures with colorless glass, resin or similar substance. This process is done to improve durability, color and transparency.
Is heat treatment permanent?
This treatment is usually detectable in many gems. Heat treated gems are stable and the treatment is usually permanent. The vast majority of gemstones are heated to alter their color. In ruby and sapphire the treatment is often performed to improve color and clarity.
What is the most common treatment for gems?
The heat treatment of gems is the most common treatment technique used on gems. Reference to heat treatment of gems is found in gemological literature dating back thousands of years. However, widespread use started in the 20 th century. This treatment is usually detectable in many gems.
What is gemstone treatment?
It has been cut or polished to bring out its sparkle and color. When we talk about gemstone treatments, though, we refer to treatments which enhance color or clarity.
Is mystic topaz a gemstone?
Mystic topaz is an example of a coated gemstone that is not found in nature. Tanzanite is rarely enhanced through surface coating, but the process is sometimes done to deepen the natural blue color. Sometimes surface coating is done as a measure of protection, and not to alter color.
What does it mean when a gemstone is cut?
Any gemstone you purchase that isn’t in its raw state has in a sense been enhanced by a jeweler. It has been cut or polished to bring out its sparkle and color.
Is prasiolite a green amethyst?
Prasiolite is often found under the name “green amethyst”. This is wrong as amethyst is always violet or purple. Amber is commonly heat treated in order to darken the color and clarify the gem. Aquamarine is heat treated in order to remove a natural greenish tint which is common to the gem.
What is the process of bleaching a gemstone?
Bleaching is a process that removes color from a gemstone. It is usually done in combination with dyeing. Gemstones which are commonly bleached include jadeite jade (to remove unwanted brown coloration), pearls, coral, chalcedony, and tiger’s eye. Some of these are only bleached to lighten their color.
What gemstones are dyed?
Many types of gemstones are dyed, including pearls, quartz, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and more. Quite often when you see a bright, unexpected color in a gemstone, you should suspect dyeing. If you have ever been to a rock shop and looked at the tumbled gemstones, odds are you have encountered a lot of cheaply dyed gems.
What is heat treated gemstone?
Heat treating is usually done to change or enhance color in a gemstone. Some gemstones are also “created” through this process. Citrine for example is generally heat-treated smoky quartz or amethyst. It has an entirely different color or appearance prior to being heat treated.
