Blue diamonds can occur naturally. They are very, very rare. Several of our jewelry items use natural, mined diamonds that have been irradiated and/or heated to induce their fancy blue color. This is a permanent process. It can usually only be detected as a surface enhancement and reads differently under a spectroscope than very rare natural blue diamonds. Many of the blue diamonds seen in the jewelry business are enhanced or color treated. Their sparkle and brilliance is amazing! They are gorgeous in person and look like no other blue gem you've seen!
Why buy enhanced blue diamonds? The beauty. The mesmerizing look. The knowledge that you own something unique! Blue is one of the rarest colors of natural colored diamonds. Enhanced blue diamonds are highly sought after and one of the most desirable diamond colors (in the company of canary yellow diamonds and pink). The desire to own blue diamonds has been perpetuated by famous, natural blue diamonds such as the Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond is shrouded in legend and lore.
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What are HPHT treated diamonds?
HPHT stands for high pressure, high temperature, and is a laboratory process which can be used to change the color in some gem diamonds. In the 1990s, scientists began to experiment with ways to modify diamond color using the high temperature and high pressure technique. HPHT treatment can change the color of certain Type IIa diamonds, making them colorless, pink or blue.
What are Irradiated treated diamonds?
It should be noted that mot irradiated diamonds are completely natural. Irradiated diamonds are stones that have been artificially treated to enhance or change a color. These treatments are commonly used on diamonds that have an undesirable tint to improve their value and salability. For example a P-Q color, which is noticeably yellow but not intense enough to call a fancy yellow, can be treated to darken its level of saturation and/or change its hue. The treatments are somewhat predictable, based on years of experience, but the exact color outcome can sometimes be disappointing.
