Gemstone
Enhancement
Some gemstone
material may have received prior treatment to change or enhance color.
We do not treat or enhance any gem material.
"This manual
sets forth proper methods to comply with the FTC Guides. With the
exception of the normal fashioning (cutting and polishing) of a diamond
and other gemstone, it is the seller's responsibility at the time of
the sale to provide all information pertinent to the enhancement and
alteration of a natural gemstone. If the stone is not natural, it is
also the seller's responsibility to disclose that fact. This
information is required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)."
"Failure to identify enhancement/alteration of natural gemstones, when present, is an unfair trade practice." |
Definitions and Gemstone Enhancement Codes:
A | Indicates either a
gemstone that is not
currently known to be enhanced or one that is so rarely enhanced that
to give it an "E" symbol would mislead the public. Example: Amethyst is rarely known to be treated. |
|
E | Indicates that this gemstone is routinely enhanced | |
N | Indicates this particular gemstone has received no enhancement and the seller will guarantee this. | |
B |
Indicates that Bleaching of the gemstone has been done. Bleaching is the use of chemicals or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.Example: 'Blonde Tigereye" is enhanced in this manner |
|
C | Indicates that a Coating has been used as a surface treatments such as waxing, lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add special effects. | |
D | Indicates that Dyeing
has occurred.
Dyeing is the introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give
it new color, intensify present color or improve color
uniformity. Example: Agate is sometimes enhanced in this manner. |
|
F | Indicates the gemstone has had Filling
or Infilling or Stabilizing of some form. This is the
filling of surface-breaking cavities or porous gem material with
colored or colorless glass, plastic or other hardened material to
improve appearance, durability, and/or weight. Example: Turquoise is commonly enhanced in this manner. |
|
G | Indicates the
gemstone has undergone some form
of Gamma or Electron Irradiation.
This is the use of
gamma and/or electron bombardment to alter a
gemstone's
color. May be
followed by a heating process ("H"). Example: Blue Topaz is commonly enhanced in this manner. |
|
H | Indicates the
stone has been heated to
effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena. Example: Sapphire is commonly enhanced in this manner. Example: Citrine is commonly enhanced in this manner. |
|
L |
Indicates the gemstone has undergone the use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusionExample: Diamond is commonly enhanced in this manner |
|
O |
Indicates the introduction of a colorless oil, wax, natural resin, or unhardened man-made materials into fissured or porous gemstones was made to improve appearance.Example: commercial grade Emerald is commonly enhanced in this maner. |
|
R | Indicates the
gemstone has undergone Irradiation.
This is the use of neutron or a combination of neutron with any other
bombardment to
alter a gemstone's color. May be followed by a heating
process ("H"). Example: Blue Topaz is commonly enhanced in this manner |
|
U | Indicates the
gemstone has undergone Diffusion
which is the use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to
produce a relatively shallow layer of color and/or
asterism-producing inclusions. Example: Diffusion treated Sapphire is enhanced in this manner. |
Gemstone Enhancement:
History,
Science and State of the Art, Second Edition, 1994,
by Kurt Nassau, published by Butterworth/Heineman