Gemstone Enhancements

Almost every gemstone on the market has been treated to enhance its appearance. The concept is to take an already beautiful stone and enhance its favorable characteristics. Whenever you’re comparing two stones, regardless of the source, you can almost be certain that both have been enhanced in some way. There are gemstones that are naturally so perfect that they will not be enhanced, but these are so rare and valuable that you aren’t likely to encounter many of them in your lifetime. Some commonplace enhancements, such as heat treatment to enhance color, are permanent and do not require special care. Other common treatments include infusing the stone with colorless oil, was or resin to improve its clarity. Enhancements do not detract from the stone’s beauty or value. In fact, they increase the value and beauty of each natural stone.

The following are common enhancements you may expect:

• Heat Treatment – Enhances color
• Irradiation – Permanently alters color
• Infusion – Improves overall appearance
• Bleaching – Lightens color and improves color consistency
• Dying – Improves color
• Coating – Improves sturdiness and appearance