Seminar Program: An update on the Heat Treatment of Ruby and Sapphire by TED THEMELIS
This powerful one full-day seminar is conducted by Ted Themelis explaining the latest and most controversial heat treatments of ruby-sapphire. You will learn not only how the heat treatments enhance these gems, but also about their pricing structure. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to examine by yourself rubies-sapphires before-after heating..
Session 1: Diffusion and Heat Treatment of Ruby and Sapphire
Characterization of diffusion (old and new interpretations); type of diffusion in ruby and sapphire; gas diffusion, impurity diffusion; model of diffusion mechanism in ruby and sapphire; diffusion in untreated, natural ruby and sapphire; surface, subsurface colour and impurity diffusion in ruby and sapphire; comparison and conclusions of diffusion-treated rubies-sapphires.
Session 2: Revisiting Beryllium-treated Ruby and Sapphire
Review of the first generation beryllium process; new developments of the second generation beryllium process — Be-treated blue, yellow, greenish sapphires; identification of the Be-treated ruby and sapphire using classic gemmological instruments; detection of beryllium in ruby and sapphire using LIBS, LA-ICP-MS and SIMS.
Session 3: Classification of the Heat Treatment Process of Ruby and Sapphire
Additives — gas, solid and mixtures; heat treatment processes of ruby and sapphire classified into three major groups; methodology of the practical, commercial heat treatment processes; models of the heating processes of ruby and sapphire.
Session 4: ‘Romancing the Geuda.’
A documentary film on the heating of geuda sapphires, filmed by Ted Themelis in Sri Lanka in 1986.
Session 5: An update on the fracture-filling processes
Nature and classification of the fractures in ruby and sapphire; methodology and applications of the borax-filling and lead-filling processes; combination fracture-filling processes (borax-silica-lead, etc.); desolvation process; comparison features between borax-filled and lead-filled rubies; fracture-filled rubies — features, characteristics, identification, stability.
Session 6: Value of the Heat-Treated Ruby and Sapphire
Pricing structure — a journey from the mines to the consumer; model of mining production and value of ruby and sapphire; cost effectiveness index of the heat-treated ruby and sapphire; value of the heat-treated ruby and sapphire.
Session 7: Conclusions
Considerations on the definition of a ‘gem’, ‘treated gem’; examining the character of a ‘gem’; treated vs. enhanced gem; concluding thoughts and recommendations for gemmologists.
Session 8: Surprise!
Results on the ongoing experimentation and prospects for the future.
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