Quick Look At Enhancements
This guide provides information on the most common enhancement and treatment processes for some of the most popular gemstones.
Diamond
Laser drilling is commonly used in the clarity enhancement of diamonds. A focused laser beam is used to drill a narrow channel from the surface to dark inclusions which may then be acid bleached.
Fracture filling treatment is done occasionally to improve the apparent clarity of diamonds. Surface-reaching breaks are filled with a transparent substance.
Artificial irradiation of diamonds has attained some importance due to the coloring effect produced when the stone is bombarded with particles of atomic size. Irradiation produces a green color which can be further altered to fancy yellow-brown, orange, and rare pink by subsequent heating under controlled conditions.
Ruby & Sapphire
Heat treatment is widely used as a means to produce intense blue hues in sapphires and bright red hues in rubies. High-temperature treatment of rubies and sapphires may cause a star effect, or lighten dark blue hues of sapphires.
Cavity filling is a common treatment in which a glass-like substance is applied to seal surface pits and cavities, add weight and improve the appearance of rubies and some sapphires.
Emerald
Oiling and infilling are very widespread practices. Surface reaching breaks in emeralds are filled with various materials to improve appearance.
Traditionally, oiling has been performed with organic substances such as cedarwood oil, balsam, wax, and palm oil. In recent years, new commercial techniques for infilling surface breaks have been developed to improve clarity and add weight. Materials used in these procedures include glass, epoxy plastic, and other artificial substances.
Aquamarine
Heat treatment of green-blue aquamarine is routinely done to produce beautiful sky-blue hues.
Citrine
Heat treatment of amethyst produces most citrine.
Opal
Impregnation with colorless oil, wax, or plastic is sometimes used to improve the play of color and hide the cracks of poor quality white opal.
Sugar treatment and smoke treatment may be used to deepen the background color and intensify the play of color of black opal.
Tanzanite
Heat treatment of tanzanite produces violet and deep blue colors. Most tanzanite is heat treated.
Topaz
Heat treatment is responsible for producing pink topaz from yellow, orange, and brown topaz stones which contain chromium.
Irradiation and subsequent heating produce the well known blue color. Most blue topaz on the market has been treated.
Tourmaline
Irradiation is common and produces deep pink tourmaline from very light pink stones.
Heat treatment can lighten very dark blue-green stones and produce blue hues by heating purple and brown specimens.