What is Heat Treatment ?

Heat treatment means the material has undergone some type of heating process in order to alter or improve its appearance - most commonly its color & clarity.

 

What Does Heat Treatment Consist Of?

Standard Heat treatment of a Sapphire or Ruby is the recreation of what happens geologically in the ground during crystal growth. Gemstones crystallise under intense heat and pressure. If a Blue Sapphire crystal is mined from the ground and has a few inclusions or a slightly inconsistent blue colour, then the miners may deem this stone as needing a little more incubation time to maximise the clarity and colour. There are no outside chemicals used when just heating a Ruby or Sapphire.

 

Why heat treatment can be done ?

Heat treatment is done on gemstones, including sapphires , Rubies etc for several reasons.

1. To improve the color of stone.
2. To improve the clarity of stone.
3. To Removing undesirable colors, like color zoning , unwanted tinges.
4. Market demand , Heated gemstones are more readily available and affordable than untreated stone , making them more accessible to consumers.

 

This is an acceptable practice is because there are no outside chemicals used when just heating a Ruby or Sapphire.

 

When was heat treatment start?

Heat treatment of sapphire to enhance its color and clarity has been practicing for centuries. Historical records suggest that heat treatment of sapphires dates back to ancient times possibly dating back to Roman times. Possibly started in the Indian subcontinent or Sri Lanka.

 

Does a Heat-Treatment Reduce a Gemstone's Value?

Heat-treated gemstones are not necessarily valued less, but unheated gemstones do carry a premium, especially if good quality. Quality is a slightly separate subject however, as regardless of whether a Ruby or Sapphire is heated or not, the quality grading system remains the same.

 

What's the difference between heated and unheated gemstones & how do you choose?

While we love the natural beauty and rarity of an unheated stone, a heated stone will likely have higher clarity and be a more intense color for a lower price - it's all about what matters to you!

 

How Durable Heated Stones?

When it comes to wearability and durability heating usually does not have a negative effect on a gemstone. Also, give the color stability (resistance to fading or color changing life time ) of heated gems is usually very good and they are super stable.

 

Is heated stone has a potential in market?

Heat-treatment of gemstones is one of the acceptable practices. It is widely used in the industry by all manner of luxury jewellers and traders around the world ,Most commonly, it is used with Corundum aka Rubies and Sapphires.

 

Gemstones that are commonly heated

Heat treatment is normal in that stones like  rubies, Sapphires , blue topaz, tanzanite, citrine, kunzite , blue zircon , aquamarine , amethyst and spinel  Unless they’re labeled as ‘unheated’ you can assume they’ve been heated to lighten or intensify the color and improve clarity.

 

Types of Heat Treatment.

 Right now in market their are many types of heat treatment can be done regularly in trade from them some of common treatments here are :

 

1. Standard Heat Treatment. ( only treatment can be excepted worldwide )
2. Borex Heat treatment.
3. Beryllium treatment.
4. Diffusion treatment.
5. Glass filled treatment.
6. Irradiation treatment.