Gemstone Treatments

Gem treatments can affect a stone’s value and stability. Learn how the most common procedures work and how to identify enhanced gem inclusions.…

Corundum gems receive more types of treatments than any other stones. Learn how to test rubies and sapphires for signs of these enhancements.

Learn how to spot diffusion treated gems with a simple immersion test. This common treatment for sapphire can significantly reduce their value…

Ouro Verde quartz, also known as lemon quartz, is a popular treated stone. Learn how experiments with other gems led to the development of this treatment.…

There’s more to aquamarine color than blue. Most natural stones start bluish green and are heated to blue. Learn the pros and cons of this treatment.…

Quartz color treatment results vary due to the stone’s origin. Learn the effects you can achieve with different materials and radiation and heat…

Center-fused color treated gems are assembled from natural rough. Learn how the procedure works and how to identify this stable color enhancement.…

Gemstone heat treatments can increase the beauty and value of many rough pieces. Learn how to conduct the most common procedures safely.

The AGTA has proposed the use of gemstone treatment codes to promote disclosure and a common language for these procedures. Learn what these codes…

How can gem buyers avoid undisclosed gem treatments and substitutions? Learn why it’s best to deal with expert gem cutters rather than commercial…

Jade is one of the most popular and expensive gemstones. It can also receive many enhancements. Learn about jade treatments and how to identify…

Some gems contain both natural and lab-made components. Learn about these hybrid gemstones and how to distinguish them from mined gems.

Gemstone coatings are a simple way to enhance color and luster. Learn about commonly coated gems, different coating techniques, and how to detect…

There are so many common gemstone treatments available today that keeping track of them can be difficult. This list and handy cheat sheet can help.…

Disclosing enhancements to gems is a key duty for gemologists. Learn what are the hardest treatments to detect and how to report your findings clearly.…

Almost all cut emeralds have had clarity enhancements. Learn how these emerald enhancements work, what substances are used, and how to detect…

Emerald treatments, such as oiling, are very common. Learn what these techniques do, how emeralds are graded, and what gems make great green alternatives,…

Did you know that routine pearl treatments are the most common enhancements in the gem trade? Learn more about these procedures and how they impact…

With so many opal treatments on the market, it’s important to understand the different enhancement processes. Read on to learn how to detect…

We’ve tallied your opinions from our gem treatment survey. Are treated gems natural? How much should they cost? With a wide variety of attitudes…

Two of the trickiest gemstone separations to make are scapolite from citrine and apatite from tourmaline. Learn some tips for distinguishing…