Buying Diamonds can be tricky all by itself. But today, thanks to all the current treatments out there buying colored Diamonds can be a buyers worst nightmare!!! In this Guide we will discuss the treatments that you need to be aware of when looking to buy a colroed Diamond.

Laser Drilling
First we have laser drilling. This treatment is done via a laser and is used to burn out smaller inclusions to make a Diamond appear cleaner then it is/was naturally. This method leaves behind tell tale drill holes that can be seen under magnification. Sometimes the Diamond is then fracture filled to fill in these drill holes to make them even harder to identify. While this treatment does make the Diamond better to look at it does affect the price/worth of the Diamond in a negative way.

Irradiation
Next we have irradiation. This method of treatment involves subjecting the Diamonds to radiation to change their colors. This method is regulated and stones must not be released onto the market until the levels of residual radiation are harmless, but a buyer must beware stones coming from other Countries or unknown and unreliable sources because they may not be held over long enough. This is a very common treatment for colored Diamonds and most all colored Diamonds that are not natural are treated this way.

Fracture Filling
This treatment method is normally used in conjunction with the laser drilling treatment to fill the drill holes. Sometimes it is used by itself. This method invloves a resin or filler (glass or other material) that will seep into any cracks, holes, or fissures on the surface of the Diamond and fill them and then harden. This is typically considered a permanent treatment but can be unstable. The resin or filler is of course softer than the Diamond itself and is therefore more subject to cracking and falling out. Sonic cleaners can also damage these types of stones. This treatment method also negatively effects the Diamonds price/worth.

Coated
Coating treatment is just that, it is a coating that is applied to the outside of the Diamond to give it it's color. It is very similar to the same method used on Mystic & fancy colored Topaz. The main problem with this treatment method is that the coating is only on the outside of the stone and therefore it can be scratched off. This treatment, again, has a negative impact on value of the gemstone.

Now, we get to one of the newest, and so far, most dangerous treatments! Most dangerous in the fact that it is very hard to identify!!

Surface Coating
Very similar to the Coating method above, but this treatment is only applied to the Pavillion of the Diamond. But the color appears to be throughout the entire Diamond!!! This treatment is very tough to identify for most people. It takes high magnification, special angles, and good lighting to be able to identify this treatment. This method of treatment is new and has not saturated the market as of yet, but expect it to very shortly!!

As you can see, buying colored Diamonds is a chore, and you the Buyer, need to be properly educated so you know exactly what you are getting!