What are common gemstone treatments?
Gemstone treatments are much more prevalent and accepted in the jewelry industry now than ever before. Many gemstones have some kind of treatment either before or after cutting. For example roughly 90% of all corundum (ruby and sapphire) on the market has been heat treated. This usually takes place directly after the mining process. Rough sapphire and ruby are put into a high temperature furnace to lighten, darker or even out the color. This is typical of most gems and accepted as routine enhancement. Some gemstones are altered by a combination of heating in a reducing environment and chemicals. This is a treatment that must disclosed as it changes the value of a gemstone significantly. This type of treatment can dramatically change the color of a gem to the extent of making a colorless sapphire blue. Untreated gemstones are exceptionally rare and command top prices. Only an accredited gemological laboratory can certify that a gemstone is entirely free of heat treatment. Origin reports
