Gemstone Enhancements, Treatments & Care

Skillfully merging art and science, a variety of techniques are used to help gemstones reach their full potential. As critical as good cutting, enhancements and treatments are an integral part of the modern gemstone industry. With its roots in antiquity (e.g. heat treatment has been practiced in India for over 4,000 years), most of the techniques used simply facilitate the beautiful end results of the earth’s natural processes. Below are some answers to common gemstone enhancement, treatment and care questions.

Gamma radiation produced by a source of cobalt-60 in processing gems:
This just accelerates the coloration process in the gems, in the same way nature would do it after thousand of years. Most of the so called natural gems are colored by the radiation existing in mineral deposits, due to the presence of radioative elements suchs as uranium, thorium, potassium, dissiminated in the rocks in suchs low concentrations that thousands of years would be necessary to color the gems. The radiation, be it natural or artificial, just activates what the phycisists call "color center". It does not influence directly the changing process in the structure of the mineral, nor does it add any artificial process after which the gem can and should be considered natural.

Is the use of enhancements and treatments globally accepted?

With close to 99% of the more popular gem types enhanced, as long as they are disclosed, all permanent enhancements and treatments are globally accepted. As the majority of gemstones traded internationally have undergone some form of enhancement, always assume treatments when purchasing gemstones.

Are all enhancements and treatments permanent?

With the exception of Emeralds, whose beauty is enhanced by the application of oils or polymers, DBprecious.com only knowingly accepts enhancements and treatments that are permanent with normal wear. Our information sources for gem enhancements and treatments includes university mineralogical, gemological and geology departments, gem laboratories, trade associations, regulatory bodies, professional journals, books, the internet, and individual experts.

Do enhancements or treatments affect a gem’s value?

For some varieties there is no difference between the values of enhanced, treated or natural gemstones. However, high quality unheated Rubies and Sapphires are extremely rare and command a much higher market price. When attempting to purchase Rubies and Sapphires, please be aware that unheated/untreated specimens are almost non-existent, and as a result, always purchase from a reliable supplier or have the seller’s claim verified by a gemologist.