What does it mean when a gemstone is “treated” or “enhanced”?

Many gemstones undergo treatments after being mined to improve their color or clarity. This is a standard and acceptable industry practice, provided the seller discloses it to the buyer. Common treatments include:

Heat Treatment: The most common enhancement. Sapphires and Rubies are often heated to extremely high temperatures to permanently brighten their color and dissolve internal cloudiness.

Irradiation: Frequently used to change or enhance colors in stones like Blue Topaz and some Diamonds.

Fracture Filling: Emeralds are naturally highly included (flawed). They are often treated with special oils or resins to fill surface-reaching cracks and improve their overall appearance.

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