As more gem deposits are discovered, an ever increasing amount of treatments are being developed to turn lower quality gem materials into a product that can be used for jewelry. Some sapphires are being treated under pressure and diffusion of color causing elements has been applied to gems like spinel to improve their color. This presentation will cover a wide variety of the treatments that you need to know about in today’s gems trade.

Polarized light reveals a multitude of recrystallized corundum grains that result from heat treatment of this sapphire with pressure. Field of View 1.81mm