Clearing Up Confusion On Sapphire Heating
Are you curious or confused about sapphire treatments?
This quick read will dive into the practice of heating sapphires—a common and ancient method that enhances the beauty and value of these precious gems.
In our inventory, some stones may carry terms such as “standard heat”, “normal heat”, “heat only”, or “routinely heated”. Let us elaborate on the meaning of these terms.
Getting The FAQ's Straight
We are very frequently asked questions such as, “What does heating do?”, "Does it make the gem worth less?" and "Does it damage the stone?".
What Does Heating Do?
Most often, heating dissolves rutile inclusions due to the naturally lower boiling point of rutile in comparison to that of corundum (sapphire/ruby). Rutile is a secondary mineral that often grows within the corundum crystal and can cause a silky or hazy appearance. By melting these inclusions, the clarity can be enhanced as a byproduct.
Certain inclusions can melt and be healed during the process. In some cases of extreme heating, the saturation and hue of color can increase and/or even out.
In some regions, during the heating process, various elements may be introduced to sapphires depending on the desired outcome. Commonly used elements include oxygen, hydrogen, and other gases. These elements help facilitate the removal of impurities and enhance the color of the sapphire. Be sure to always ask which particular methods your supplier is using.
Is Heating Bad?
Firstly, we must realize that all gemstones are heated - before we unearth them.
While humans have been heating sapphires for thousands of years, the process has evolved from a rather crude experiment to a very sophisticated method, depending on your supplier and their sourcing methods, that is.
Modern controlled methods are design to imitate the earth’s natural processes in an expedited manner. In terms of structural integrity, the molecular makeup and hardness of corundum is not altered by standard practices.
Are Heated Stones Worth Less?
This, however, is never a straightforward answer. Although if you were comparing two extremely similar stones where one is heated and one is not, the non-heated stone will always reign supreme simply based on market preferences and "supply and demand".
Also consider that heating can add tremendous value to a stone by intensifying color and increasing clarity. At the same time, heated stones can cost more or be worth much more for these same reasons.
What Other Treatments Should I Be Aware Of?
That's a great question! Thanks for asking it!
There are more detrimental methods of heating that do significantly devalue stones and MUST be disclosed. Unfortunately, they are often not. This could be due to ulterior motives or simple lack of knowledge from the seller(s). It is our industry experience that the more hands your stones pass, the less care and concern follows with them.
Flux heating, beryllium diffusion, and lead glass filling are all intense treatments that greatly affect the appearance of low-quality stones. Be inquisitive, be informed, and if your spidey-senses are going off, JUST CALL US!
Seriously though, trust the gut.
Takeaways
- * Buy what you like from a seller you can trust.
- * Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and if they can’t effectively answer them, don’t be afraid to go elsewhere.
- * Heating is not a concern of harming or devaluing a stone.
- * Keep following for coupons, website sale notifications and use full industry tidbits such as this one!
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