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A pair of deep red, heat-treated ruby earrings

An Intro to Gemstone Treatments and Enhancements

In order to maximize their appearance and wearability, gemstones are often enhanced with treatments based on the stone type and the desired effect. Due to the rarity and uniqueness of colored gemstones, most fine jewelers (including Blue Nile) enhance their gems using various techniques. Some of these procedures have been around for centuries, while others have been developed in recent years.
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What are Enhancements?

There are many methods used to enhance a gemstone’s color, clarity and durability and maximize its beauty. Different gemstones are enhanced differently, depending on the type of gem and the end goal.

An Intro to Gemstone Treatments and Enhancements

  • Heat Treatment

    Heat treatment is a method used to permanently enhance the color and/or clarity of a gemstone by applying heat. The temperature and time required to alter gemstone color depends on the stone. For example, rubies and sapphires require more heat than other gemstones. While some stones become more color-saturated after a heat treatment, stones like amethyst will lighten under high temperatures.

    Some may worry that high heat will damage the gemstones, but most gems are formed under high temperatures, and heat will not have a negative effect on the stone. Heat treatment is one of the most common practices in gemstone enhancement, and without it, the availability of fine gemstones would be significantly reduced. For this reason, heat treatment is an accepted practice by the jewelry industry and the American Gem Trade Association.

  • Infusion

    Infusion is the practice of filling a gemstone with a material like oil, wax, glass or resin in order to improve gemstone clarity. Like most gemstone enhancement procedures, this is a method that began centuries ago with the purpose of enhancing a gemstone’s overall appearance to the naked eye.
  • Coating

    Coating adds additional protective layers to gemstones, varying in form and function. One of the most common materials used for coating gemstones is wax, which can improve the stone’s luster and protect gems from external oils and other damage. In other cases, artificial polymer, resin and oils are used to coat the gem and improve sturdiness and appearance. Coating is often used on gemstones cut into the shape of a cabochon gem, like turquoise and jade, and is also very commonly used on pearls.
  • Bleaching

    Bleaching is commonly used to lighten the appearance of a gemstone. Chemicals like bleach and hydrogen peroxide are the most common lightening agents for gemstones. Bleaching also removes unwanted color in order to even out the appearance of the stone.

    This is a relatively stable enhancement method for gems that won’t be re-cut or polished following the treatment, but bleaching may have a negative impact on the gem’s durability. For this reason, the bleaching method is often combined with an impregnation treatment to improve strength and durability.

  • Dyeing

    Dyeing involves adding a coloring agent into a gemstone to give it a new color, intensify its existing color or to improve the overall color uniformity. Since color is the most important attribute of a gemstone, dyeing is one of the oldest enhancement methods in the industry.

    Some believe that dyeing a gemstone decreases its value and renders it artificial, but this treatment only enhances its natural pigmentation—a dyed stone looks nearly identical to an undyed, much more expensive jewel.

  • Irradiation

    Similar to heat treatment, irradiation is an enhancement method that uses radiation to alter and improve the color of a gemstone. Irradiation involves levels of ionizing radiation, which changes the atomic properties of the gemstone and results in a visible improvement in the gemstone's appearance.

    The most common concern about irradiation is whether the radioactivity is safe for the wearer, and the answer is yes! There is no evidence of any harm from wearing an irradiated gemstone.

  • New and Future Enhancement Technologies

    Gemstone enhancement techniques have been around for centuries and continue to be developed every year in order to provide consumers with the most beautiful gemstone jewelry available at an affordable price.

    We are committed to working with the best industry professionals and gemologists to maintain our high-quality standards when it comes to gemstone enhancement.

What to Look For When Buying an Enhanced Gemstone

We’re fully transparent about our gemstone enhancements. As you’re shopping our gemstone jewelry online, review the Product Details on the page, which will specify whether and how that specific gemstone has been enhanced—click the information icon for more details. If you’re browsing one of our showroom locations, here are a few tell-tale signs that the stone may have been treated.
  • Vivid Color

    The gemstone may have been treated with heat or irradiation.
  • Even Color

    The gemstone may have undergone dying or bleaching.
  • Eye-clean Appearance

    If the gemstone appears perfectly clear, it may have undergone an infusion.

Our Colored Gemstone Enhancement Approach

We are proud to offer the highest quality, hand-selected gemstones on the market. In order to meet our high professional standards, our colored gemstones are thoroughly inspected by our expert gemologists to ensure all gemstone enhancements have been made with precision and care.

Common Enhancements by Gemstone

Gemstone
Enhancement method
Agate
Heated or dyed to improve color.
Amber
Heated to improve color and clarity.
Amethyst
Heated to improve color.
Apatite
Heat
Aquamarine
Heated to improve color and clarity.
Black Diamond
Heated or irradiated to alter color.
Black Onyx
Dyed.
Black Spinel
None.
Blue Topaz
Heated and/or irradiated to alter color. Thermal coated to alter color.
Carnelian
Heated to improve color.
Chalcedony
Dyed.
Chrome Diopside
None
Citrine
Heated to improve color.
Coral
Coated or impregnated with color less substances to improve surface uniformity or durability. Bleached or dyed to enhance color.
Diamond
None.
Emerald
Infused to improve clarity and/or color.
Fire Opal
None.
Garnet
None.
Iolite
None.
Kunzite
Heated or irradiated to improve color
Labradorite
None.
Lapis
Dyed.
Moonstone
None.
Morganite
Heated to improve color and clarity.
Opal
Coated to alter surface consistency and durability.
Pearl (natural and cultured)
Bleached, dyed, polished and coated.
Peridot
None.
Prehnite
None
Quartz
  • Green/Lemon: Irradiated to improve color.
  • Smokey: Heated to improve color.
  • Blue: Dyed.
  • Rutilated/Rose/white: None.
Ruby
Heated and/or infused to improve color and clarity.
Sapphire
Heated and/or infused to improve color and clarity.
Spinel
None
Tanzanite
Heated to alter color and clarity. Infused to alter color and clarity.
Tourmaline
Irradiated to improve color.
Turquoise
Coated or impregnated with color less substances to improve surface uniformity or durability.
White Agate
None.
White Topaz
None.

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AmethystAquamarineBlue TopazEmeraldGarnetMoonstoneMorganiteOpalPeridotRubySapphireTanzaniteAll Gemstone Buying Guides

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