Is it ok to buy treated gemstones?
Monday, June 1st, 2009
As gemstones are extracted from beneath the surface of the earth, they look like rough stones in their crude form. Since ancient times, gemstones have been treated and enhanced to bring out the aesthetic appeal of the gems. As critical as good cutting and polishing, treatments and enhancements have become an integral part of the modern gemstone industry. A vast majority of colored gems go through an enhancement process that does not diminish their natural beauty, or true worth. Heat-treating, which significantly enhances color, is the most common procedure and has a long historical precedent. Other practices include oil and resin applications to fill tiny cracks (this is especially common with rubies and emeralds), and, to a lesser extent, diffusion treatments that boost the surface color of the stone.
