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This is the final article of the series ‘How to shop for gem’, here we will discuss the different types of treatments for gem and a way to know all the important details of the gemstones that you plan to buy. Treatments of Gemstones Very few of the gemstones in the market today are sold in the natural condition in which they were extracted from the earth. They are all subjected to one or the other type of treatment. Knowing about the treatment helps us in making an informed decision. In the previous article we had discussed heating and now we move on to other common treatments: Oiling Treatment Some of the gems which cannot be treated with heat, like emeralds are treated with oil. This Oiling treatment is believed to have started in the Egyptian times and here oil is used to make the inclusions less visible and enhancing the beauty of the gem. Fracture filling/Dyeing Just like oiling sometimes gemstones have the inclusions filled but this treatment is not very acceptable as it is not very stable and if you are buying a gem treated like this make sure that you're not paying a very high price for them. Irradiation – Just like irradiation adding an element while heating the gem can also change its color but the problem with this treatment is that it is only skin deep so if the gem gets chipped we can see the original color, so diffusion was used to uniformly color the gem but as these are not natural gems they are not very expensive. Coatings– This is yet another treatment for gemstones which change the appearance of the stone but it is again not a very stable treatment. Whenever the gem is scratched the coating will come off so it can be very irritating to see coming off from some of the treasured piece. How to find out what you are buying As gemstones change many hands and sometimes even the gem sellers may not be aware of the treatments they have been through, some of these jewelers purposely do not disclose treatments. So if you want to be doubly sure what are you getting it is always better to get a lab report. These reports for colored gemstones are valuable because they will verify - if the gemstone is natural or synthetic
- the size of the gem
- some reports even mention the color grade
- Sometimes even the source of the gem is also mentioned if sufficient evidence to prove location if it can be proved and if it is asked to be included.
- But don’t expect that the lab report will also mention the value of the gemstone.
Hope this article will help you in making the right choices! Happy gemstone buying! A go to store for authentic gemstone and diamond jewelry is Angara.com. Check out Related Articles- How to Shop for Colored Gemstone Part I
How to Shop for Colored Gemstone Part II
How to Shop for Colored Gemstone Part III
How to Shop for Colored Gemstone Part IV
How to Shop for Colored Gemstone Part V
Related Articles -
How to Buy Gemstone Jewelry, How to Buy Colored Gemstones, How to Buy Loose Gemstones, How to Choose Quality Gemstones,
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