| Think
about..... Reexamine the different types of diffusion
taken place upon heat-treating gems. What are the criteria to
interpret correctly the diffusion phenomenology in ruby-sapphire?
Why the hydrogen diffusion in corundum is excluded from calling
these stones "hydrogen diffusion-treated", like the
"beryllium diffusion-treated corundum"? How about
those diffusion treated gems due to irradiation treatment? How
about the flux and other additives used in filling the cracks/cavities
in Mong-Hsu rubies? How about the oiling of emeralds? Who takes
advantage of the situation? Who are the losers? Why the trade
avoid such questions? Why the trade intentionally distort the
meaning on the disclosure of gem treatments? Why jewelers keep
quiet on the treatments of diamonds and who are the benefactors?
|
| Gray
area 1. Is beryllium a "chromophore" in the
heat-treating process of papaya-colored sapphire? What causes
the intense "neon" orange and other colors on these
sapphires? Bear in mind that beryllium is found in natural,
untreated corundums from Thailand, Madagascar, Tanzania and
Burma. |
Consult
my book Beryllium-Treated Rubies
& Sapphires and read my postings on the Gemlab
News; then draw your own conclusions. |
| Gray
area 2. Define "traditional", "nontraditional"
treatment methods in heating corundum. How about a gem classification
based on these degree on these criteria? |
Read the
latest edition of my book The Heat
Treatment of Ruby & Sapphire |
| Gray
area 3. What are "permissible" and "non-permissible"
irradiation gem treatments? |
Read my
book Gem Treatments & Enhancements (in print) |
Gray
area 4. Define "permissible" and "non-permissible"
treatments on processes using fluxes in heating corundum.To
view images of various furnaces and equipment used in gem treating
click here
|
Read my
book The Heat Treatment of Ruby
& Sapphire |
| Gray
area 5. Correct the term "diffusion-treated sapphires"
erroneously introduced by GIA in early-1980's (Gems & Gemology,
"Diffusion-Treated Sapphires") and prevailed
in the trade for over 20 years. Diffusion process of irradiated
and heat-treated gemstones. |
The industry
is refusing to accept proper reforms and corrections. It will
stay as is for a long time...
|
| Gray
area 6. What are the "permissible" and "non-permissible"
filling substances in treating emeralds. |
Read my
Gemlab Report #GR2-01
"Oiling emeralds" |
| Gray
area 7. Define the meaning of "padparadscha"
sapphires and separate them from their similarly appearing African
orange sapphires. |
Read my
Gemlab Report #GR1-04
"Padparadscha or Orange sapphire?" |
| Gray
area 8. Define the criteria which distinguish a "Ruby"
from a "Pink Sapphire". |
Read
my Gemlab Report #GR1-01
"Ruby or Pink Sapphire?" |
| Gray
area 9. Define criteria that distinguish a "Rubellite"
from a "Pink Tourmaline". |
Read
my Gemlab Report #GR1-02 "Rubellite
or Pink Tourmaline?" |
| Gray
area 10. Define criteria that distinguish an "Emerald"
from a "Green Beryl". |
Read my
Gemlab Report #GR1-03
"Emerald or Green Beryl?" |
| Gray
area 11. What is a "pigeon-blood ruby"? or
a "cornflower-blue" sapphire?
|
Read
my book The
Heat Treatment of Ruby & Sapphire |
| Gray
area 12. What do you mean "glass-filled ruby?",
"Ruby with filled with silica glass? |
Read
my report "Glass-Filled
Ruby" and my book Flux-Enhanced
Rubies-Sapphires |
| Gray
area 13. In the prestigious FGA syllabus numerous erroneous
statements are given, like heating temperatures, soaking times
and atmosphere conditions in heat-treating ruby-sapphire. That
means, students may fail the FGA exam unjustifiably. |
Read all
my books and Gemlab reports on these issues |
More
gray areas. Why Mogok rubies are not specifically stated
as "Mogok, Burma" in the Gemstone Reports
issued by many commercial gem laboratories? Why the Mong-Hsu
rubies (also from Burma) fetch much lower value than their Mogok
counterparts? Why the commercial gemlabs deliberately confuse
the issue? Who benefits from such misinterpretation and confusion?
By the same logic, why "Kashmir sapphires"
are not termed as "Indian sapphires?"
|
Read my
book Gems & Mines of Mogok
|
