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Sapphire Education |
| Origins
| Carat |
Cut | Color
| Clarity |
Certification |
Treatments |
Selection | Care |
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| Sapphire Education
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Standard
Heat Treatment
What is heat treatment in sapphires? |
| As
an accepted industry standard, sapphires are heat-treated to improve
color, clarity,
and overall appearance. Some sapphires are found closer to thermal venting in
the earth, which produces exceptional color through natural heating. By heating
sapphires that are not found in these locations, we mimic this natural process.
No radiation, chemicals or health risks are involved in this process. As is
common with almost all sapphires available today, the majority of Brilliant
Earth sapphires are heat-treated. Brilliant Earth also carries un-heated
sapphires at a premium. |
Treatments
To Avoid
How do I know if my sapphire has been treated
inappropriately? |
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| There are many other types of colored
gemstone treatments which are not standard and will impair the value of the
gemstone. The easiest way to avoid non-standard treatments is by knowing the
origin of your sapphire, which is why Brilliant Earth rigorously
tracks the origin of our sapphires. The following treatments are never
found at Brilliant Earth.
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Irradiation causes
permanent color change at the molecular level. Most reputable jewelers will
disclose this treatment, as it can result in colors that would not occur in
nature. However, the industry has seen cases of gemstones where this treatment
goes undisclosed. |
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Fracture fills make cracks in the
gemstone less noticeable, which temporarily improves transparency and/or
clarity and can cause color change. This is not a permanent or stable treatment
and can be removed from the gemstone, revealing the large and unattractive
inclusions it has been masking. This problematic treatment may often be
undisclosed. |
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Surface Dyes can alter the body color
of a gem, and are not permanent. Often this treatment is used to pass off an
imposter gemstone as a sapphire. |
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Beryllium can be added to sapphires to
enhance or change color. Many stones with this treatment have entered the
market without disclosure, and it can take expensive and destructive testing to
uncover beryllium treatment in a sapphire.
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| Avoid unscrupulous retailers who may
not disclose non-standard treatments to your sapphire. |
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| Explore
Our Sapphires
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