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Diamond Irradiation
Sir Willaim Cookes, a gem connoisseur as well as a chemist and physicist, was the first to discover radiation's effects on diamond color when in 1904 he conducted a series of experiments using radium salts. Diamonds enveloped in radium salt slowly turned a dark green; this color was found to be localized in blotchy patches, and it did not penetrate past the surface of the stone. The emission of alpha particles by the radium was responsible. Unfortunately radium treatment also left the diamond strongly radioactive, to the point of being unwearable. A diamond octahedron so treated was donated by Crookes to the British Museum in 1914, where it remains today: it has not lost its color nor its radioactivity.Nowadays a diamond is safely irradiated in four ways. Irradiated diamonds are all some shade of green, black, or blue after treatment, but most are annealed to further modify their color into bright shades of yellow, orange, brown, or pink. The annealing process increases the mobility of individual carbon atoms, allowing some of the lattice defects created during irradiation to be corrected. The final color is dependent on the diamond's composition and the temperature and length of annealing.
Cyclotroned diamonds have a green to blue-green color confined to the surface layer: they are later annealed to 800°C to produce a yellow or orange color. They remain radioactive for only a few hours after treatment, and due to the directional nature of the treatment and the cut of the stones, the color is imparted in discrete zones. If the stone was cyclotroned through the pavilion (back), a characteristic "umbrella" of darker color will be seen through the crown (top) of the stone. If the stone was cyclotroned through the crown, a dark ring is seen around the girdle (rim). Stones treated from the side will have one half colored deeper than the other. Cyclotron treatment is now uncommon.
Gamma ray treatment is also uncommon, because although it is the safest and cheapest irradiation method, successful treatment can take several months. The color produced is a blue to blue-green which penetrates the whole stone. Such diamonds are not annealed. As with most irradiated diamonds, most gamma ray-treated diamonds were originally tinted yellow; the blue is usually modified by this tint, resulting in a perceptible greenish cast.
The two most common irradiation methods are neutron and electron bombardment. The former treatment produces a green to black color that penetrates the whole stone, while the latter treatment produces a blue, blue-green, or green color that only penetrates about 1 millimeter deep. Annealing of these stones (from 500?900°C for neutron-bombarded stones and from 500?1200°C for electron-bombarded stones) produces orange, yellow, brown, or pink. Blue to blue-green stones that are not annealed are separated from natural stones in the same manner as gamma ray-treated stones.
It should be noted that some irradiated diamonds are completely natural. One famous example is the Dresen Green Diamond. In these natural stones the color is imparted by "radiation burns" in the form of small patches, usually only skin deep, as is the case in radium-treated diamonds.
Synthetic Gems..
Buying gemstones online can be exciting and akin to a Treasure Hunt! However, how to distinquish between a synthetic and natural gemstone is part of the detective work Treasure Hunters have to take into consideration before clicking on the "Buy it Now" or "Place Bid" button.
This Quick Reference Guide will assist you in what too look for in purchasing gemstones. First, if the description states the gem is "lab created" there's not much guesswork involved. If what you're looking for is a Lab Created Gemstone and the description states "Lab Created" then you know what you're buying.
However, sometimes you really have to read the description (line by line) in order to truly know if a gem is Lab Created. Read the description carefully as the words "Lab Created" may be present however, if the description of the item is extremely long, you might just miss the words "Lab Created".
Remember that some lab created gemstones can cost the same (if not more) than a genuine gemstone!
Lab Created gemstones are exactly what they are (created "grown" in a lab). They usually can come out absolutely clean without any inclusions or fractures. In other words, they're usually absolutelty perfect (something Mother Nature rarely creates).
The gem will test as a real gem! In other words, gems such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds and spinels will test as their natural counterparts! However, there are a few signs, which will tell you if what you purchased is the real thing.
Look at the gem with a 10x's loupe and if you see bubbles and/or their are numerous bubbles, the gem will have a cloudy appearance. If you don't own a loupe bring the gem to a local jeweler and just ask them to look at the gem under a 10x's loupe (no need to invest money in an appraisal, which may cost more than the gem itself!)
If you purchase gems in large quantities and/or are a collector of gems, invest in a 10x's loupe!
Many consumers ask "what is a doublet?" A doublet is creatd by combining the crown (upper part of the gem) with the lower part of a natural gem. It's basically created by using part of the a natural gemstone (usually of inferior quality), a substitute stone, colored paste or glass. Think of two stones in one (one real and the other a substitute material to create one gem). It's one layer on top of another.
A triplet on the other hand combines three layers. Two layers of a poor quality gemstone with a layer of paste in the middle (think of an Oreo cookie and you'll get the idea). The paste usually contains lead and is very soft and eventually the stone will lose its color and brilliance.
Semi Precious & Precious Gemstones...
What is a the difference betwee Semi Precious and Precious Gemstones? Precious gemstones fall into a small group. The precious stone group would include Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald (to mention the few major precious gems).
The main Semi Precious Gemstone Group would include; Topaz, Garnet, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Quartz, Zircon, Opal, Moonstone (just to mention a few - the list is rather long). Organic Gems include Pearl, Amber and Coral and are viewed as "precious".
Price Swings in Gemstones...
Price is determined by a number of factors. The first would be color. The more vivid the color, the more the gem will be valued. Gems are cut to maximize their brilliance and as such, the better the cut, the higher the price. If there are many inclusions in the gem, the Clarity of the gem will be affected and the price will drop.
The carat weight will also determine the price of the gem. The larger the gemstone (in carat weight) the higher price. If you're buying a gem, which displays a vivid color, fantastic cut, superior clarity and a large carat weight, expect to pay more.
If the gem color is of good quality and the gem has some inclusions (cutting down on the clarity) and the cut is mediocre, expect to pay less. However, remember that if it's a mediocre gem, the price may still high due to the sheer size of the gem. Buy 5 carats of anything and expect to a pay premium due to size alone.
Calibrated Gemstones...
What exactly is a Calibrated Gemstone? Calibrated gemstones are cut in a variety of shapes and sizes. A Calibrated Gemstone is cut to specific dimensions so that they are able to fit in jewelry settings.
Popular gemstone cuts are round, emerald, princess, trillion, pear, heart, oval and marquise.
If you purchase a gemstone, which has not been Calibrated, you might find it difficult to set and/or may be required to have the gem re-cut to be set. Any gemstone, which is Calibrated - is ready to set!
Buying a Gemstone...
What to look for in a gemstone when purchasing one - is your budget! What can you afford? What you can afford will determine what you can buy! Once you have settled on a specific gemstone, you should then scout out a "like counterpart" in the same color zone to see if you can save money. If you really want to buy an emerald but can't afford the price of an emerald, look for a dark Green Tourmaline. No one will know the difference but you and a qualified jeweler!
Remember, be creative and budget minded when Treasure Hunting for diamonds and gemstones.
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