Jewel processing method

As consumers, they often encounter processed gemstones in the market. Among friends who like colorful treasures, such as corundum, sapphire and ruby, the most frequently discussed ones are burning and non-burning. This is a kind of heating treatment. It is used to improve the inclusion body and gemstone color.

In addition to heat treatment, there are many other treatment methods. Most of these treatment methods are to enhance the appearance, color, etc.

But for ordinary consumers, the value of the processed gemstones may be greatly reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the treatment methods of gemstones.
The following are the ten common treatment methods.

1. Drift

2. Surface coating

3. Dyeing

4. Fracture or cavity filling

5. Heat treatment

6. High pressure and high temperature (HPHT) treatment

7. Impregnation

8. Irradiation

9. Laser drilling

10. Lattice diffusion

One, Bleaching: The chemical removal of undesirable tones or spots on the surface of gemstones.

The most common methods of gem bleaching include:

• Jadeâ ¦ Jadeâ ¦ Jadeâ ¦ Jadeâ ¦ Acid bleach is usually used to remove unwanted brown components. Bleaching jadeâ ¦ is usually a two-step process: first, acid bleaching, which can cause the material to become slightly porous or prone to cracks, and then polymer impregnation treatment to fill these open spaces for a better overall appearance.

• Jadeite and Nephrite - One of the common methods of handling jadeite in the market is bleaching. Bleaching can improve the color and transparency of jadeite and make it more attractive.

• Pearl (Pearl) - All types of pearls are usually bleached with hydrogen peroxide to lighten their color and improve uniformity. The bleaching is to make the color of the pearl more consistent and attractive.

• Other materialsâ ¦ Some gemstones such as coral, chalcedony, and tiger-eye quartz may lighten their color by bleaching.
  

These bleaching methods are designed to improve the appearance of gemstones and make them more attractive. When purchasing gemstones, it is important to know if the gemstone has undergone a bleaching treatment, as the treatment may have an impact on its value and quality.

Detectability: Bleaching is usually a single-step process and is difficult to detect in most cases. The second step is to impregnate using polymer compounds, which qualified gemology laboratories can detect more easily using amplification and more advanced analysis techniques.

In trade: Bleaching is commonly seen in the processing of gems such as pearls and jadeite, and is often encountered in purchases.

Two, Coating (Coating): Coating a layer of substance on the surface of a gemstone to change the color of the gemstone or enhance its luster.

The most common coated gems: diamond, tanzanite, topaz, coral.

Detectability: Once in doubt, an experienced gemologist can easily identify the processing method of the gemstone, unless the coating material is colorless and the purpose is to improve durability.

In purchase: The above gemstones occasionally encounter surface coating treatment in the transaction.

Three, Dyeing (Dyeing): Change the color of gemstones by soaking them in a dye solution so that they absorb the dye.

The most common dyed gemstones are: pearls.

There are other gemstones, and the dyeing process has been used since ancient times in coral, turquoise, lapis lazuli, garnet, nephrite, chalcedony, quartz, emerald, etc.

Detectability: In most cases, gemologists can detect dyed gems.

Encountered in trading: Gems are occasionally dyed, and colored pearls are often encountered.

Four, Fracture or Cavity Filling (Fracture or Cavity Filling): The use of a specific substance to fill the cracks or holes inside the gemstone to improve its appearance.

Common filled gems: diamonds, rubies, emeralds.

Detectability: In most cases, gemologists can identify filled gemstones by amplifying them.

Encountered in trading: Diamonds, rubies and sapphires, and emeralds are often encountered.

Five, Heat Treatment (Heat Treatment): Heat a gemstone to a specific temperature to change its color, enhance its luster, or eliminate impure materials inside.

Common heat treatments: ruby, sapphire, tanzanite, topaz, tourmaline, zircon.

Some merchants will emphasize whether they are newly burned or old-fashioned. In fact, newly burned refers to the addition of other substances during the heating process, which cannot be called natural gems.

Detectability: It can be detected by the contents of the gemstone. Usually, when the gemstone is used for identification certificate, it will issue whether it has been processed.

Encountered in trading: Ruby and sapphire are often encountered.

VI. High Pressure and High Temperature (HPHT) Treatment: Expose the gemstone to a high temperature and high pressure environment to change its color or eliminate impure substances inside.

A diamond is heated to a high temperature under high confining pressure to remove or change its color.
Heating a diamond under high pressure and high temperature can remove or reduce its brown color, making the gemstone colorless. Other types of diamonds may change from brown to yellow, orange-yellow, and yellow-green, or blue through this process.

Detectability: The identification and testing organization can detect.

Encountered in trading: Used of diamonds, also commonly found in some colored gems.

Seven, Impregnation (Impregnation): Soak gemstones in specific substances to improve their stability and durability.

The surface of porous gemstones is permeated with polymers, waxes, or plastics to give them higher durability and improve their appearance.

The most common wax or plastic impregnated gemstones are opaque, including turquoise, lapis lazuli, jadeite, nephrite, celestial river stone, siderite, and serpentine.

Detectability - In most cases, a qualified gemologist can easily identify the processing method.

Encountered in trading - often seen in trade.

Eight, Radiation (Radiation): By exposing a gemstone to radioactive substances or sources of radiation to change the color of the gemstone or produce special effects.

Common Irradiated Gems: Diamonds, Topaz, Topaz, etc.

Detectability: Since topaz does not naturally show a strong blue color, such gems are considered to have undergone radiation treatment. The strong colors of green, pink, and red diamonds should also be considered suspicious. Determining whether a colored diamond is a natural color or a processed color needs to be checked by an experienced gemstone testing laboratory.

Encountered in trading - extremely common in topaz and common in colored diamonds.

Nine, Laser Drilling: The use of laser technology to drill holes inside gemstones to remove or mitigate visible undesirable features.

Diamonds are the only gems that have been processed in this way, partly because only they can withstand the heat of the laser.

Ten, Diffusion: Exposes the gemstone to a specific material and temperature, allowing the color on its surface to penetrate into the interior of the gemstone, changing the color of the gemstone.

Common processing gems: corundum (ruby, sapphire), feldspar.

Detectability: It is tested by the gemstone testing laboratory.

The situation encountered in trading: Diffusion-treated corundum is common in trade.