Gemstone Treatments

Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are altered or treated to improve their appearance or durability.

The FTC states that the following common treatments or enhancements have to be disclosed at the time of sale, examination, or evaluation:

Heating: can lighten, darken, or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone's clarity.

Irradiation: can add more color to colored diamonds, some other gemstones, and pearls.

Impregnating: gems can be impregnated with colorless oils, wax, or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve a gemstone's clarity and appearance.

Fracture filling: involves injecting colorless plastic or glass into the gems to hide cracks or fractures and improve the gemstones' appearance and durability.

Diffusion treatment: adds color to the surface of colorless gems while the center of the stone remains colorless.

Dyeing: adds color and improves color uniformity in. some gemstones and pearls.

Bleaching: lightens and whitens some gems, including jade and pearls.

Laser-drilling: removes dark inclusions from the diamonds, improving the appearance of the stone.

If you have a complaint about a firm's practices or policies, you can contact the Better Business Bureau in your city.

In addition, if a jeweler has misrepresented what was sold to you, you can contact:

Jeweler's Vigilance Committee (JVC)

25 W. 45th Street #1406

New York, NY 10036

(212) 997-2002

The Kimberly Process

The Kimberly Process is a joint government, industry, and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds - rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.

The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The KCPS outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds.

Learn more about the Kimberly Process here

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true...