Standard Gemstone Treatments. We sell many types of gemstones. From rough stones that have been polished to color-enhanced diamonds. Many of the treatments are regulated by the FTC. Definitions of them are listed below. If you have any questions about the jewelry you are purchasing from us, please contact us sales@generousgems.com
Assembled: the tag code for products made of multiple layers or combinations of manufactured and/or natural materials fused, bonded or otherwise joined together to increase stability and/or imitate the apperance of a natural gemstone, create a unique design or generate unusual color combinations
Bleaching: The use of chemicals or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.
Coating: The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects.
Dyeing: The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity.
Enhanced: Many stones are enhanced for color. It is a permanent process routinely done.
Filling: As a by-product of heat enhancement, the presence of solidified borax or similar colorless substances which are visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification.
Gamma/Electron irradiation: The use of gamma and/or electron bombardment to alter a gemstone's color ; may be followed by a heating process.
Heating: The use of heat to effect desired alteration of color, clarity, and /or phenomena. (Residue of foreign substances in open fractures is not visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification.
Infilling: The intentional filling of surface breaking cavities or fractures usually with glass, plastic, opticon with hardeners and/or other hardened foreign substances to improve durability, appearance and/or weight.
Imitation stones are man-made stones.
Lasering: The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusion in diamonds.
None: some stones have NO treatment.
Oiling/Resin Infusion: The intentional filling of surface breaking cavities of a colorless oil, wax, natural resin, or unhardened man-made material into fissured transparent/translucent gemstones to improve appearance. (i.e., oil, man-made resin, cedar wood oil, Canada balsam, paraffin, etc.)
Irradiation: The use of neutron, requiring an environmental safety release from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), with the combination of any other bombardment and/or heat treatment to alter a gemstone's color.
Bonding: The use of a colorless bonding agent (commonly plastic) within a porous gemstone to give it durability and improve appearance.
Synthetic: gems that are "lab" or synthetic have the same properties as natural gems but are grown in labratory conditions.
Diffusion: The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism-producing inclusions.
