There are a variety of diamond enhancements or treatments
a diamond can undergo that can significantly alter the price of
the diamond when compared to a natural diamond. The FTC requires
all diamond merchants to disclose all diamond enhancements and treatments
to their customers. Failure to do so can result in fraudulent
charges and lawsuits against the diamond dealer. When buying a diamond,
it is recommended to simply ask for a non-treated or enhanced diamond
and have the merchant clearly indicate on the invoice somewhere
that the diamond is in fact, not treated and 100% natural mined
from the earth. Listed below are some treatments that are done with
gemstones.
Bleaching: The use of chemicals or other agents to lighten
or remove a gemstone's color to achieve a brighter/whiter diamond.
Gamma/Electron Irradiation: The use of gamma and/or electron
bombardment to alter a gemstone's color; may be followed by a heating
process. Heating: The use of heat in a high temperature sintering
furnace to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena.
Infilling/Fracture Filling: The intentional filling of surface
breaking cavities or fractures usually with glass, plastic, opticon
with hardeners and/or other hardened foreign substances to improve
durability, appearance and/or add weight. The foriegn material will
have a different index of refraction than diamond, and a trained
gemologist can see the light bending within the stone.
Lasering: A laser is used to penetrate a diamond and remove
certain black inclusions. Chemicals are then used to further reach
and alter inclusions in diamonds.
Oiling/Resin Infusion: The intentional filling of surface
cavities of a colorless oil, wax, natural resin, or unhardened man-made
material into fissured transparent/translucent gemstones to improve
appearance. (i.e., oil, man-made resin, paraffin, etc.)
Irradiation: The use of neutron bombardment, with the combination
of any other bombardment and/or heat treatment to alter a gemstone's
color.
Do you want to learn more about various diamond enhancements, how they affect value, or have additional questions not found on this page? Ask our diamond experts and get free advice in our forum! > ENTER FORUM
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