Education Before & After Photos The Natural Sapphire Company

In this section we show the shocking “before and after” samples of treated sapphires. This section is provided for those who must “see to believe.” These pictures are NOT digitally altered or misrepresented in any way. They have been supplied by scientific and reputable laboratories, individuals and companies that are held in high regard within the trade. None of these photos have been taken by our company. They have all been supplied by third party independent professional scientists and laboratories.

Here at The Natural Sapphire Company integrity is our highest priority, we will never seek to exaggerate, misrepresent or bash any products sold by other companies. Our focus is on disclosure and education. It is important that the dramatic differences be shown so that consumers can make a more informed decision when purchasing sapphires.

We would like to thank John Koivula, top researcher at the GIA and now senior gemologist. As well, Ted Themelis (Themelis Labs) for their excellent research, disclosure, education and photography.

The dramatic change in color and clarity is of a blue
sapphire when heat-treated.

Once considered completely useless, this corundum
(sapphire) is treated in a sophisticated heating
process that radically changes the color and clarity
so that it becomes a mix of pink sapphires and
rubies. These stones are now saleable.

Here is “sandpaper quality” sapphire that is treated
to produce commercially valuable stones. Unlimited
quantities of “sandpaper quality” sapphire exist that
can be used for treating. these stones are then cut
and put into jewelry for sale.

Here are many types of sapphires from Madagascar
that have been heated using Be (Beryllium) gas.
The dramatic color change is caused with the
addition of Beryllium that diffuses into the sapphires
in the heating process.

This purplish - black sapphire from Burma is
transformed into commercially usable pink sapphire
after a flux additive is put in the heating process.
Traditional heating of sapphires typically takes 2-3
days.

Here are preformed cut (roughly shaped) light
colored sapphires that have been heated in a
diffusion process using Be (Beryllium) gas.
They were then faceted and polished into
unbelievably uniform colored sapphires.
This process proves the unlimited creation of
treated sapphires. These stones are not rare.

These before and after photos show how massive
inclusions can be dissolved with specialized heating
techniques to not only create far improved clarity,
but also create uniform coloration throughout the
material being treated. There are so many different
heating processes that it is almost impossible to
identify each correctly.

The study of inclusions in sapphires is a sure way
to detect if a sapphire has been treated.Heating
sapphires at extreme temperatures change the
internal characteristics so much that it is quite easy
for a trained gemologist to determine if the
sapphire has been heated.This diagram shows
natural untreated inclusions in a sapphire (left) and
inclusions in a heated sapphire (right).

Here are all natural untreated sapphire inclusions
photographed at various magnifications.
These specific types of inclusions show that these
sapphires have not been treated by heating.
Unique types of inclusions in sapphires can also
suggest where a specific sapphire was mined in the
world.Once a trained individual has studied many
types of sapphires and inclusions they can make
educated assumptions on the origin of where the
sapphire originated.

Here is a classic “silk” type inclusion in a natural
untreated blue sapphire. This is the most common
“stamp of authenticity” to show that a sapphire has
not been treated. These fine microscopic rutile
needles are most common in sapphires from
Sri Lanka, Burma and Madagascar. Often buyers
want to see some “silk” effect within a sapphire,
just enough to show that the stone is indeed
natural, but not too much to where it overpowers
the viewing of the stone.

	Overview
	Sapphires: Types, Colors, Descriptions, Origins & Vital Details
	Sapphire Grading Explained
	Mining of Sapphires
	Gem Laboratories and Details
	Jewelry Terms and Details
	Published News Articles and Essays on Sapphires and Treatments

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