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Gemstone Enhancements

Gemstone enhancement is quite common in the jewellery industry due to some coloured gemstone characteristics and rarity. Unenhanced coloured gemstones are extremely rare and costly. The treatment is not always apparent to the naked eye and at times hard to distinguish even by trained gemologists.

Coloured gemstones we sell are enhanced using numerous techniques, depending on the stone’s variety and supplier. Enhancement procedures include bleaching, surface polishing, dyeing, heat and pressure therapies, irradiation and other necessary treatments. Our white and fancy colour diamonds are not enhanced in any way, other than traditional cutting and polishing.

Heat Treatment

For centuries, heat treatment has been used around the world to enhance and alter coloured gemstones’ clarity and colour. It is a part of the polishing and finishing process and most frequently applied to Amber, Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst, Zircon, Tourmaline, Topaz, Tanzanite and Aquamarine.

Bleaching

Different chemicals used in coloured gemstone treatments include hydrogen peroxide and acids, to lighten and improve colour and remove unwanted nuances. Bleaching is occasionally combined with dyeing. Its most commonly used in pearls, jadeite and occasionally on coral and tiger eye quartz.

Coating

Coating, also known as Backing, is a widely variable method, mainly used in the past. It includes painting the back of the stone to enhance or alter its colour, or coating its surface in wax, oil or resin, to improve overall exterior looks or the gem durability. Its most commonly used for diamonds, coral, tanzanite, topaz, pearls and quartz.

Dyeing

Dye is applied to porous and fractured gems, to change or improve their colour. If the stone lacks pores, they are created purposely through heating. Is it mostly used on pearls, jade, turquoise, quartz, ruby and emerald.

Infusion

The process first became a practice when merchants discovered that submerging emeralds in oil or wax made the stones look clearer to the unarmed eye. The treatment includes filling gemstones with wax, oil, glass or resin to conceal their appearance and improve clarity and stability. This treatment is most common for diamonds, rubies and emeralds.

Irradiation

Irradiation is the process of gemstone colour alteration through radiation. The procedure is often followed by heating treatments to further modify the gemstone colour. This technique is mostly used on diamonds, pearls, topaz, quartz, corundum and other gemstone varieties.

We collaborate with gemological experts who are committed to identifying and disclosing all new and potential techniques, maintaining and bettering our standards. If you require any more information on gemstone engagement rings or gem set jewellery, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.