How are gemstones color enhanced?

How are gemstones color enhanced?

Irradiation. Similar to heat treatment, irradiation is an enhancement method that uses radiation to alter and improve the color of a gemstone. Irradiation involves levels of ionizing radiation, which changes the atomic properties of the gemstone and results in a visible improvement in the gemstone’s appearance.

Can you change the color of a gemstone?

There are a few gemstones with this color-change ability including color-change sapphire, color-change garnet, color-change diaspore and, most famously, alexandrite. All with subtle differences in color and in their ability to change not only in different sources of light but also at different times of the day!

What does Enhanced mean for gemstones?

The term enhancement is defined as any treatment or process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, value or availability of a gemstone. In today’s gem marketplace, many gemstones have been enhanced by a variety of methods.

What gemstones are heat treated to enhance color?

Sapphires, rubies, aquamarine, tanzanite, amethyst, citrine, blue topaz, blue zircon, tourmaline, and others are commonly treated with heat. The temperature and time required to alter color varies dramatically from 400 degrees Fahrenheit to 1300 degrees are commonly used to alter color.

Are Blue Nile diamonds treated?

Nearly all gemstones today, including Blue Nile stones, have been treated to enhance their color.

Are treated gemstones less valuable?

Treated gemstones are cheaper. This is one of the biggest advantages of a treated gemstone. Most people want to buy or wear an emerald but since an emerald costs $50K per carat (untreated), most people cannot afford it.

Does alexandrite change color?

Alexandrites are remarkable and rare gemstones. They display an extraordinary colour change according to the ambient lighting, from emerald green in daylight to ruby red in incandescent light from tungsten lamps or candles.

How many color changing gemstones are there?

There are only a handful of color changing gemstones including Alexandrite, Color Change Fluorite, Color Change Garnet, Color Change Sapphire and Zultanite®. Unlike other color changing gemstones, Zultanite®’s color change is not limited to two basic colors.

How are emeralds enhanced?

Emeralds are occasionally color-enhanced by introducing dye into surface reaching fissures to deepen the green color of less valuable lighter Emeralds. The purpose of this is to draw the filling substance into any surface-reaching fissures (on a microscopic level) to improve the clarity of the Emerald.

Why is tanzanite heat treated?

After mining, the gems are usually heat treated regardless, in order to remove any residual unwanted colours. Natural Tanzanite gemstones can also be heat-treated to remove the brownish colour and leave behind the blue and violet that we have all come to adore.

What are enhanced rubies?

It is a common treatment that enhances the value and the appearance of natural rubies. While undergoing this treatment, the ruby is placed under a high temperature of 1800 degrees. The heat dissolves the rutile inclusions and improve the color, transparency and clarity of the ruby.

Is Blue Nile overpriced?

Price. You cannot deny that Blue Nile are one of the least expensive online diamond retailers in the business but what you actually get for your money is open to debate. If you’re looking for an exceptionally high quality round cut or princess cut diamond, take a look at the A CUT ABOVE Diamonds line from Whiteflash.

What are the different ways to enhance gemstones?

1 Heat Treatment. The most common form of enhancement is heating. 2 Radiation. Now you know why some in the gem industry are nervous about full disclosure. 3 Oiling. Some gems, notably emeralds, have internal fractures. 4 Dyeing and Sealing. Less expensive gems can receive enhancements, too. 5 Lead Glass Filling.

Are enhanced gemstones as durable as unenhanced?

There are some enhanced gem materials which are just as durable and easy to care for as their un enhanced counterparts. However, there are other enhancements which are not color stable in certain gem materials or can cause the gem to not be very durable in everyday wear. I will try to explain this as clearly as possible.

What is the history of gemstone enhancement?

The writings of Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) discuss many gemstone enhancement techniques including foil backing, oiling, and dyeing. These techniques, applied to gemstones for over 2,000 years, are still popular today.

Can jewelers enhance less expensive gemstones?

Less expensive gems can receive enhancements, too. Dyes are common treatments for stones such as black onyx. Jewelers often seal porous materials like turquoise with surface coatings, such as paraffin wax, so body oils won’t cause discoloration.