Color              . Hue          . Saturation         . Tone	Clarity
	Cut
	Distinctive Phenomena
	Treatments / Enhancements
	Chatham Created Gemtones

It is noted here that distinctness of phenomena, if present, can be a major price factor in a colored gemstone. Stars (star rubies and star sapphires are the best known star gems), Cat's-eyes, alexandrite's change of color, opal's fire, are among many.



A treatment (or enhancement) is defined as any process other than cutting and polishing, such as heating, oiling, irradiation, waxing, or dying which alters and improves the appearance (color/clarity/phenomena), durability, value or availability of a gemstone.

When you spend a few hundred dollars on a gem, the treatment is normally not a major issue. In fact, you can just assume that in today's gem market many gemstones such as rubies, sapphires, aquamarines, and tanzanites have been heat treated, and the emeralds have been treated with oil and fracture filled. Treatment processes may range from simple heating (such as for tanzanite) to high-tech irradiation (such as for blue topaz). The American Gem Trade Association or AGTA offers guidelines that are the most stringent in the industry.

Some gemstone enhancements are less stable than others, meaning that the appearance of a gem may change over time. At Jewelplus.com only gemstones whose enhancements (if any) have good to excellent stability are offered. A gemstone enhancement is considered stable as long as the gem does not change in appearance (color, clarity) under normal wear, cutting, cleaning, repair or display conditions.

Our advise is to enjoy wearing these gems and appreciate the fact that treatments allow you to buy more attractive stones at lower prices.

B: Bleaching - Process involves the use of heat, light and/or chemicals or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.

C: Coating - Process is often accompanied by subsequent dying and/or impregnation.
The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling, or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects.

D: Dyeing or Staining - Process involves the introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify existing color or improve color uniformity.

E: Normally Enhanced - Gemstones that are routinely enhanced.

F: Filling - Process involves filling of the surface-breaking cavities with colorless glass, plastic, or similar substance. This process will improve durability, appearance and/or add weight.

FH: Flux Heating - During heat enhancement, fluxes (or heat alone) may be used to heal fractures.

H: Heating - The use of heat to alter color, clarity, and/or phenomena.

I: Impregnation - The impregnation of a porous gemstone with a colorless agent (usually plastic) to give it durability and improve appearance.

L: Lasering - The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions.

N: Not Enhanced - Gemstones that are not currently known to be enhanced.

O: Oiling/Resin Infusion - The filling of surface-breaking cracks with a colorless oil, wax, resin or other colorless substances, except glass or plastic, to improve the gemstone's appearance.

R: Irradiation - The use of neutrons, gamma, ultraviolet and/or electron bombardment to alter a gemstone's color. The irradiation may be followed by a heating process.

U: Diffusion - The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism-producing inclusions.

W: Waxing/Oiling - The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin and/or oil in porous gemstones to improve appearance.



Created gems, mostly ruby, emerald and sapphire are now commonly found in jewelry stores. They share the same crystal and optical properties at their natural counterpart, but are usually cleaner and represent the finest natural colors. They are not synthetic or simulates they are real, just not natural. If you want a large stone, but can't afford a natural then consider created gems.

In 1938 Carroll Chatham made a remarkable discovery that revolutionized the jewelry industry. After years of research and determination he uncovered the secret of growing Emeralds (and later Rubies and Blue Sapphires and Pink Sapphires and Alexandrites) in a laboratory environment setting. CHATHAM created gemstones are not simulants or imitations. They are gemstones possessing the exact same optical and chemical properties as their naturally occurring counterparts. The EXACT same elements and the EXACT same chemical composition. Only the eye of a trained gemologist can distinguish the subtle variations between a CHATHAM created Gem and those of Mother Earth itself. This unique process which duplicates the conditions deep within the earth where Gem crystals grow remains carefully guarded family secret. Today CHATHAM continues as the largest and most innovative producer of fine quality lab-grown gemstones in the world. Chatham has patented this unique process. Please see jewelplus.com catalog for selections.

Grading system used:
1) Gem Quality - Eye clean stone.
2) Fine Quality - Slightly Included.
3) A - Less brilliance more heavily included.