Common Treatments to Gemstones - What is it and How to Recognize

Gemstones are often treated to enhance their appearance or to make them more durable. Here are some common gemstone treatments that you may encounter when shopping for jewelry:

1. Heat treatment: Heat treatment involves heating a gemstone to high temperatures in order to improve its color or clarity. For example, heat treatment can be used to lighten the color of a ruby or sapphire, or to remove inclusions from a diamond.

2. Irradiation: Irradiation involves exposing a gemstone to radiation in order to change its color. For example, irradiation can be used to turn a clear diamond yellow or green, or to create a blue or pink sapphire.

3. Fracture filling: Fracture filling involves filling cracks or fractures in a gemstone with a clear or colored substance in order to improve its appearance. This treatment is often used on diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

4. Surface coatings: Surface coatings involve applying a thin layer of material to the surface of a gemstone in order to improve its appearance. For example, a surface coating of rutile can be applied to a diamond to create a "star" effect.

5. Diffusion treatment: Diffusion treatment involves introducing a foreign element into the surface of a gemstone in order to change its color. This treatment is often used on diamonds, rubies, and sapphires.

It is important to be aware of these treatments when shopping for gemstones, as they can affect the value and quality of the stone. Some treatments may be more durable than others, and some may be more noticeable to the naked eye. Always ask the seller about any treatments that have been applied to the gemstone you are considering purchasing.