| Think about..... Separating the true gemologists from the ordinary gemologists: Why ordinary graduate gemologists cannot have access to database on analytical instrumentation used by the leading commercial gemological labs and institutes? Re-examine 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 chromophor" in the heat-treating process of papaya-colored sapphire? What causes the intense "neon" orange and other colors on these Be-treated sapphires? Bear in mind that beryllium is found in natural, untreated corundums from Thailand, Madagascar, Tanzania and Burma. |
Consult my book Beryllium-Treated Rubies & Sapphire and then draw your own conclusions. |
| Gray area 2. Define "traditional", "non-traditional" 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" 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 ruby-sapphire and other gems. |
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. |
Working on it.. |
| 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 glassy-fissures? |
Read my report "Glass-Filled Ruby" and my book Flux-Enhanced Rubies-Sapphires |
| 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, mispresentation and confusion? By the same logic, why "Kashmir sapphires" are not termed as "Indian sapphires?" |
Read my book The Heat Treatment of Ruby & Sapphire |
