GEMSTONE TREATMENTS
GEMSTONE TREATMENTS
Gemstones are often treated for many different reasons. Some stones are treated to enhance colour and appearance whilst others are treated to make them more durable. Learn more about the common stone treatments used on Gemondo gems here.
TYPES OF TREATMENT
HEAT
Heating involves exposing gems to high temperatures to change colours and reduce the appearance of inclusions
DYEING
Dyeing involves applying a colour to a gemstone.
IRRADIATION
Irradiation is the process of using radiation to alter a stone's colour. This process is often used alongside heating,
BLEACHING
Bleaching uses chemicals to strip or weaken a given colour within a gem. Dyeing may also be used along with bleaching to achieve a desired mix of shades.
HIGH PRESSURE, HIGH TEMPERATURE (HPHT)
Exposing stones to both high pressure and high temperature to alter colour.
IMPREGNATION
Porous gems are coated or impregnated with a layer of wax, plastic, resin or similar.
COATING
Gems are coated with a thin film or painted to give the appearance of a particular colour. Coating can occur on one side of a stone or many.
OILING
Oiling is the process of filling stones with oil to improve colour and reduce the appearance of flaws.
DIFFUSION
Diffusion is achieved by adding elements such as iron during the heating process to enhance gem colour.
Treatments By Gemstone
Gemstone |
Treatment |
|
Agate |
Dyed, Heated |
|
Amazonite |
Dyed, Impregnated |
|
Amber |
Heated, Dyed, Heating & Pressure |
|
Amethyst |
Heated, Irradiated |
|
Aquamarine |
Heated |
|
Blue Chalcedony |
Dyed |
|
Blue Topaz |
Irradiated |
|
Chalcedony |
Dyed |
|
Chrome Diopside |
No treatment applied |
|
Chrysoprase |
No treatment applied |
|
Citrine |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Carnelian |
Heated, dyed |
|
Diamond |
Heated, heating & pressure |
|
Emerald |
Dyed, oiling, resin |
|
Fire Opal |
No treatment applied |
|
Garnet |
No treatment applied |
|
Green Quartz |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Hematite |
No treatment applied |
|
Iolite |
No treatment applied |
|
Jade |
Impregnated, wax, dyed |
|
Labradorite |
Coating |
|
Lapis Lazuli |
Impregnated, dyed |
|
Malachite |
Coated, impregnated |
|
Marcasite |
No treatment applied |
|
Moonstone |
Oiled to improve clarity |
|
Mother of Pearl |
Dyed |
|
Mystic Topaz |
Coated |
|
Obsidian |
No treatments applied |
|
Onyx |
Dyed |
|
Opal |
Impregnated with colourless oil, wax and resin, dyed |
|
Oro Verde |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Pearl |
Bleached, dyed, irradiated, polished, lustre enhanced |
|
Peridot |
Oiling, filling |
|
Pink Topaz |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Pink Tourmaline |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Prehnite |
Lustre enhanced |
|
Quartz |
Heated, irradiated |
|
Rhodolite Garnet |
No treatments applied |
|
Rock Crystal |
No treatments applied |
|
Rose Quartz |
No treatments applied |
|
Ruby |
Heated, dyed, irradiated, diffusion |
|
Sapphire |
Heated, diffusion, irradiated |
|
Smokey Quartz |
Irradiated, heated |
|
Spinel |
Heated |
|
Tanzanite |
Heated |
|
Tigers eye |
Heated |
|
Tourmaline |
Yellow/Orange: Heated, irradiated Green/Blue: Heated, oil or resin |
|
Triplet Opal |
No treatments applied |
|
Tsavorite |
No treatments applied |
|
Turquoise |
Impregnated, dyed |
