HPHT treatment - I got a question

[_BUQARI_]

I just got a question if anyone can tell me if this diamond has been enhanced for color?
Please keep reading!

GIA has stated that IIa diamonds are the only type of diamonds that can be enhanced by HPHT into Blue color.
To detect wether a diamond can be treated or not and are of the type IIa – the diamond must have Green Fluorescence under UV-light because of some different structure than other diamonds (considered rare).

The diamond is not filter/color coated (coated with color film/filter), it's tested by a Jeweler.

Whatsoever, my diamond got Yellow/Orange Fluorescence under UV-light.
This should not be possible if the diamond has been HPHT enhanced in any way.

The diamond do got some black/dark-blue (might be carbon spots) inclusions as well.
This is also visible under UV – the spots do not change color whatsoever.

The diamond is cut by hand (not machine) for excellence and perfect symmetry, the polish can be considered ''Excellent'' as well.
The diamond is approx. 0.61 carats and are approx. 5.00 mm.

It's purchased as Natural Color, but I dont know for 100% sure and that's why I'm asking.
If it's color enhanced, it would only be loss of money getting it certified.
The seller is a diamond dealer in Africa and is registered in the diamond industry - and got zero (0) complaints.

So, I would like to get your opinions please!

Thanks!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

HPHT isn't the only way to change the color of a diamond. Irradiating them will also change the color. This process typically lends itself to the color diamond you're showing us.

The only way to know for certain, is to have it tested by a reputable lab. I would send that stone to GIA and have the tests done if you' want to be absolutely sure.

Are you within the time frame for returning the stone? If so, contact the dealer, tell him you're sending it to be verified natural for color and if it comes back as unnatural - You expect a refund of stone and lab costs.

 

[LD]

I have an HPHT diamond that has yellow/orange fluor. I'm afraid the colour of the fluor is NOT indicative of treatment (or lack of it). Looking at your diamond my gut feeling is that it has definitely been either irradiated or HPHT. I would highly doubt that it is a natural untreated diamond just based on the size and colour.

If you believe the seller then make sure you make the sale conditional upon testing and that he/she will give you 100% money back if it has been treated ALSO ask them if they are prepared to pay for the testing at a lab or your choice.

If this is a natural untreated diamond you will be paying a significant amount of money. If you're not then the chances are the seller knows exactly what he/she is selling. Compare prices with blue diamonds at Leibish to see how it compares.

Hope that helps.

 

[LD]

Edit:

The only 2 comparators are Leibish are:-

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/3374.htm For the price you have to call (which means it's super expensive).

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/3143.htm 0.15ct and around $16,000

 

[T L]

I've never seen an HPHT diamond that color (although I suppose they could exist). As Vapid mentioned, I highly suspect irradiation, and GIA would easily be able to tell if that was the treatment.

 

[_BUQARI_]

HPHT isn't the only way to change the color of a diamond. Irradiating them will also change the color. This process typically lends itself to the color diamond you're showing us.

The only way to know for certain, is to have it tested by a reputable lab. I would send that stone to GIA and have the tests done if you' want to be absolutely sure.

Are you within the time frame for returning the stone? If so, contact the dealer, tell him you're sending it to be verified natural for color and if it comes back as unnatural - You expect a refund of stone and lab costs.

Thanks for your reply!

No, I'm not.
I purchased this diamond maybe 2-3 years ago, and I can not find the receipt for it either.

My first thought is that it has been treated, I've seen 2 Natural Diamonds a long time ago.
They're very similar in color and structure - but selling a diamond like this (if Natural) without a GIA Report would be weird in my opinion.
But as far as I know, diamond dealers in Asia and Africa tend to sell diamonds without certificates - even if they're 100% real.

 

[_BUQARI_]

I have an HPHT diamond that has yellow/orange fluor. I'm afraid the colour of the fluor is NOT indicative of treatment (or lack of it). Looking at your diamond my gut feeling is that it has definitely been either irradiated or HPHT. I would highly doubt that it is a natural untreated diamond just based on the size and colour.

If you believe the seller then make sure you make the sale conditional upon testing and that he/she will give you 100% money back if it has been treated ALSO ask them if they are prepared to pay for the testing at a lab or your choice.

If this is a natural untreated diamond you will be paying a significant amount of money. If you're not then the chances are the seller knows exactly what he/she is selling. Compare prices with blue diamonds at Leibish to see how it compares.

Hope that helps.

Thank you very much for your answer and the links - I really appreciate it!
I use to compare my diamonds to fancydiamonds net as well.

Whatsoever, the color are extremely look-alike to the 0.15.
It's little darker in the middle and at the edges + almost clear/white some other places.

The color is very similar/comparable to this diamond - but the one I got is SI2-I1 clarity (1 small needle/pinpoint);
http://www.langerman-diamonds.com/shop/diamond/2528/Blue-diamond-Pear-Shape-010-ct-polished_Diamond

It's a little hard to show the color perfectly at the pictures as my light-box is broken.
And as far as I know, all SLR camera's got some "blue" undertones when picturing gemstones.
The pictures is taken with Canon 600D camera whatsoever - 18.0 mpx.

 

[_BUQARI_]

I've never seen an HPHT diamond that color (although I suppose they could exist). As Vapid mentioned, I highly suspect irradiation, and GIA would easily be able to tell if that was the treatment.

Thanks for your reply!
Yes, I use GIA a lot and was thinking about sending it there - but I already got over 30 stones in for checking at this time.
So I'm only asking because if it's treated, I think it would be only a loss of money getting it certified.

 

[VapidLapid]

I am highly suspicious that it is irradiated. A diamond in this rarity and value should come with a report. In fact it would be a necessary support material for the salesperson. I wouldn't be comfortable taking possession of a stone with this kind of potential value without a comprehensive lab report.

Have you gotten a report done on your yellow sapphire? If you are holding off to send a bunch all at once, I would caution you that it might be better to send them individually. Parcels do get lost in transit, and it would be less bad to lose a single stone than a whole collection.

 

[_BUQARI_]

I am highly suspicious that it is irradiated. A diamond in this rarity and value should come with a report. In fact it would be a necessary support material for the salesperson. I wouldn't be comfortable taking possession of a stone with this kind of potential value without a comprehensive lab report.

Have you gotten a report done on your yellow sapphire? If you are holding off to send a bunch all at once, I would caution you that it might be better to send them individually. Parcels do get lost in transit, and it would be less bad to lose a single stone than a whole collection.

Yes, they're already sent and is under grading at this time.
Because of too little people at Clarsbad, it runs really slow.
So I suppose/hope that the stones will be back in about 4-6 week (maximum)!

Yes, I know. A parcel with 3 Natural Blue diamonds got lost by USPS for almost 40 days once.
But ... they "found" it after I reported it as suspicious.

 

[_BUQARI_]

Shows NO color zones along the girdle, NO color zones at any facets either.
The UV goes through the diamond - not foggy or blocked.
It has Orange (mandarin) Fluorescence, no green.
When under 60x loupe, it shows blue sparkles - reflecting UV I suppose.

http://www.gia.edu/research-resources/news-from-research/irradiated-brown-orange-diamond.pdf

 

[LD]

Honestly? Nobody here can tell you 100%. Most of us have seen irradiated blues that look very much like your diamond and the fact that it doesn't have a lab report is suspicious in itself. The price difference between an untreated and a treated diamond is enormous so it's best that you get it checked out.

 

[_BUQARI_]

Honestly? Nobody here can tell you 100%. Most of us have seen irradiated blues that look very much like your diamond and the fact that it doesn't have a lab report is suspicious in itself. The price difference between an untreated and a treated diamond is enormous so it's best that you get it checked out.

Okay
I will get it certified then I suppose.

 

[jstarfireb]

Edit:

The only 2 comparators are Leibish are:-

http://www.fancydiamonds.net/view_diamonds/3374.htm For the price you have to call (which means it's super expensive).

Funny that they say call for price now. I was playing around on their site on a whim a few days ago, and that one caught my eye. So did its price, which was about $260,000 for the regular price without bank wire, and $240,000 on their holiday sale with bank wire.

Anyway, I agree that the deep greenish blue color of that diamond is suspicious for irradiation. It's pretty, but probably not worth as much as a house.

 

[TristanC]

Anyone selling a natural untreated blue of that colour would have it certified as they can get a few hundred times the price for a few hundred dollars. If it isn't certified, it most likely isn't natural untreated.

If you tried to sell it on, it would have to be sold on at an uncertified price (i.e. as a treated blue). Unless you sold the hope of a jackpot to a rich punter without much sense and he paid near to natural blue prices.

Unless you paid a fortune for it, I would assume it it treated and not bother with the certification. Also we don't know the provenance of the stone. It isn't rough, so it wasn't a bluish rock that you bought from someone that didn't know better, so it most likely moved through the hands of someone who has cut diamonds before. If he was cutting blue diamond rough, he would be extremely experienced due to the value of the rough. What I'm trying to say is, if it were the real deal, someone along the way SHOULD have realised it.

So right now, unless you paid significantly more than you would for a treated stone and wanted to find out what you got, you can probably skip the certification and just assume it was what it was. If you DID pay a lot more, then you should get it certified and hope you got a real deal.

 

[_BUQARI_]

Anyone selling a natural untreated blue of that colour would have it certified as they can get a few hundred times the price for a few hundred dollars. If it isn't certified, it most likely isn't natural untreated.

If you tried to sell it on, it would have to be sold on at an uncertified price (i.e. as a treated blue). Unless you sold the hope of a jackpot to a rich punter without much sense and he paid near to natural blue prices.

Unless you paid a fortune for it, I would assume it it treated and not bother with the certification. Also we don't know the provenance of the stone. It isn't rough, so it wasn't a bluish rock that you bought from someone that didn't know better, so it most likely moved through the hands of someone who has cut diamonds before. If he was cutting blue diamond rough, he would be extremely experienced due to the value of the rough. What I'm trying to say is, if it were the real deal, someone along the way SHOULD have realised it.

So right now, unless you paid significantly more than you would for a treated stone and wanted to find out what you got, you can probably skip the certification and just assume it was what it was. If you DID pay a lot more, then you should get it certified and hope you got a real deal.

Thank you very much for your reply!

Yes, the amount paid is very good if it's a Natural - but it would be expensive if it's a HPHT or Irradiated diamond.
I purchased it many ears ago in Africa and I did not think very much about that I had it in stock (been locked up for many years).

But I suppose I'll get it certified by GIA just to be 100% sure whatsover.

If it's treated (more or less "fake" in my opinion) I will just put it on the give-away list.
We give every 100th diamond for FREE to one of our customers with Report anyway.

 

[kenny]

The earliest owner KNEW for certain if this was natural or not.
If natural it definitely would have gone to GIA to command a huge price, or be sold based on relationship to a trusted associate for an appropriately HUGE price.

IMHO, the chance it is natural material and color origin are as near to zero as imaginable.

I hope I'm wrong.