I have been trying to find videos that will help explain gemstone treatments to my readers, and how they may effect the pricing of the gem. This video by AGI is talking about glass filled rubies, or fissure filled as some places call them, and how the treatment takes place. It is very interesting. It is actually a three step process that starts with heating the rough, then chemical leaching, and finally filling the gems with glass or lead. Sometimes you get a percentage of quite a bit of ruby, and others not so much. I would think this would be impossible to tell when purchasing these gemstones. They are really remarkably beautiful, I however would not pay a great deal of money for these rubies.
Showing posts with label gemstone treatments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gemstone treatments. Show all posts
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
SS Green Labradorite/Andesine Ring
I have blogged about Green Labradorite/Andesine before. You can check my archives to see the full detailed article. I bought two of these lovely gemstones, a while back. I have set them both in rings, the second one I have not taken a picture of yet. It has a very unique color, and some have color change properties to them. It is not a natural gemstone, in that it is bulk diffused to get this color. The green is more rare than the red. I do not have any red, or at least not to my knowledge. I do have some cherry red gemstones, that I got in a parcel, but they could be Madagascan Garnet. This is a sterling silver filagree design ring. It is a size 7.25 It is available for sale. If you are interested please contact me for details. Of note the Yellow variety of Labradorite is the natural form that this gemstone comes out of the ground in. If you do not yet own any Yellow Labradorite, I recommend getting some.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Common Gemstone Treatments
Most gemstones, in the marketplace, have been treated in one form or another. Treatments are used to enhance color, improve clarity, or in some cases make a stone a whole new color. For example most Citrine, in the market today, is actually heat treated light purple Amethyst. Did you know that, I didnt until I started researching gemstones. Tanzanite, is heat treted to get the purple blue color, so desired. When it comes out of the ground it is brown, or green, 9 times out of 10. Treating of gemstones, is completely acceptable in the trade. It is however, illegal to not disclose to the consumer, that a stone has been treated. Treatments, make stones more beautiful, but they should also bring the value of the stone down some. So when purchasing gemstones, beware of the seller that will sell you a stone at extremely high prices, without revealing to you the stone has been treated. Here are some common forms of treatments, being used today.
1- Heat treatment, probably the most commonly used method of treating gemstones. It is used to enhance or change the color, of a gemstone.
2- Diffusion, a method similar to heat treating that intensifies the color of a gemstone.
3- Irradiation, a method used mostly for enhancing of color, or bringing on a totally new color. Alot of exotic colors of diamonds and topaz are irradiated. Blue diamonds, red diamonds, green diamonds, and very intense yellow diamonds are almost always irradiated.
4- Oiling and Waxing, is used to enhance gemstone color by filling in cracks and fissures. It does not appear this is a permanent treatment, and your stone may someday not be as lovely as when you purchased it.
5- Fracture filling coats gems with a clear or colored epoxy resin or another substance. The treatment fills-in cracks, which improves the appearance of the gemstone. This is very often done with rubies, and emeralds, where large amounts of inclusions are common. This is acceptable in the trade, however it does devalue your stone immensely so beware when purchasing stones. Be sure to ask if this treatment has been done, especially if you are paying a very high price per carat.
6- Laser drilling, removes inclusions thereby improving clarity. I have never heard of this one, and have no experience with it.
In conclusion, while most gemstones, in the market today are treated in someway, it should be disclosed to you. They are used to make stones more beautiful and lovely.
1- Heat treatment, probably the most commonly used method of treating gemstones. It is used to enhance or change the color, of a gemstone.
2- Diffusion, a method similar to heat treating that intensifies the color of a gemstone.
3- Irradiation, a method used mostly for enhancing of color, or bringing on a totally new color. Alot of exotic colors of diamonds and topaz are irradiated. Blue diamonds, red diamonds, green diamonds, and very intense yellow diamonds are almost always irradiated.
4- Oiling and Waxing, is used to enhance gemstone color by filling in cracks and fissures. It does not appear this is a permanent treatment, and your stone may someday not be as lovely as when you purchased it.
5- Fracture filling coats gems with a clear or colored epoxy resin or another substance. The treatment fills-in cracks, which improves the appearance of the gemstone. This is very often done with rubies, and emeralds, where large amounts of inclusions are common. This is acceptable in the trade, however it does devalue your stone immensely so beware when purchasing stones. Be sure to ask if this treatment has been done, especially if you are paying a very high price per carat.
6- Laser drilling, removes inclusions thereby improving clarity. I have never heard of this one, and have no experience with it.
In conclusion, while most gemstones, in the market today are treated in someway, it should be disclosed to you. They are used to make stones more beautiful and lovely.
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