Why is heat treating rubies bad?
- Thread starter blkcat
- Start date
- Status
Cave Keeper
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 264
It depends on how pretty you wish your stone to be. Some may be satisfied with skin-deep beauty, others demand more than that.
Basically, it is most likely that some of the internal flaws and structures inside the stone are destroyed, as if an internal melt-down has occured. Most digital images of gemstones which were subject to heat treatment will show an internally cloudy or gluey, messy look. Some people get a feeling as if they''re looking at a dead stone.
Some people think the internal flaws and structures give a stone its special character and individuality. It seems Nature is able to show a beauty of its own in unheated stones. Synthetic stones tend to look too pure internally, as if they were empty dwellings without souls.
For those who some may call superstitious, the natural crystal structures of stones may be used to bring about beneficial vibrations to their surroundings and persons who wear them or are near them. Heat treatment may damage the natural vibratory ability of stones. In the extreme, some of these people may even insist on uncut stones, especially if they think cutting a stone is like skinning a person! Others may think a cut crystal is better for amplifying beneficial vibrations.
Money-wise, it comes down to Bragging Rights - the green eyed "I''ve got something you don''t have - the Real Thing" social syndrome.
Basically, it is most likely that some of the internal flaws and structures inside the stone are destroyed, as if an internal melt-down has occured. Most digital images of gemstones which were subject to heat treatment will show an internally cloudy or gluey, messy look. Some people get a feeling as if they''re looking at a dead stone.
Some people think the internal flaws and structures give a stone its special character and individuality. It seems Nature is able to show a beauty of its own in unheated stones. Synthetic stones tend to look too pure internally, as if they were empty dwellings without souls.
For those who some may call superstitious, the natural crystal structures of stones may be used to bring about beneficial vibrations to their surroundings and persons who wear them or are near them. Heat treatment may damage the natural vibratory ability of stones. In the extreme, some of these people may even insist on uncut stones, especially if they think cutting a stone is like skinning a person! Others may think a cut crystal is better for amplifying beneficial vibrations.
Money-wise, it comes down to Bragging Rights - the green eyed "I''ve got something you don''t have - the Real Thing" social syndrome.
widget
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 4,255
On the contrary, heat treatment improves the looks of a stone.
There is nothing "bad" about heat treated rubies...they can be, in fact often are, more beautiful than untreated ones. Treatment does not impact the stone''s durability.
I think those people who prefer unheated stones enjoy and place value on having a gem that came out of the earth looking as it does, with no human intervention.
And of course, there is the "snob appeal" of having something that is especially rare...
widget
strmrdr
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2003
- Messages
- 23,295
There are also different levels of heat treatment also.
From the bake it a bit to tweak the color to the melt it down into a blob then cut it because its a mess of inclusions to add some material to fill in the holes.
So a blanket statement that heating is bad or good isnt really possible.
As long as its disclosed I dont have a problem with heat treating but to be honest I prefer the gentler heat treating to the melt it treatment.
When it comes to treatments that add glass or synthetic materials to it then Id just rather have a synthetic anyway.
If I was going to buy a large best looking ruby it would be synthetic the nicer large natural rubies while awesome just dont score well on my bling for the buck meter.
So its all up to oneself you make your pick and pay the money to play the game as you see fit :}
From the bake it a bit to tweak the color to the melt it down into a blob then cut it because its a mess of inclusions to add some material to fill in the holes.
So a blanket statement that heating is bad or good isnt really possible.
As long as its disclosed I dont have a problem with heat treating but to be honest I prefer the gentler heat treating to the melt it treatment.
When it comes to treatments that add glass or synthetic materials to it then Id just rather have a synthetic anyway.
If I was going to buy a large best looking ruby it would be synthetic the nicer large natural rubies while awesome just dont score well on my bling for the buck meter.
So its all up to oneself you make your pick and pay the money to play the game as you see fit :}
strmrdr
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2003
- Messages
- 23,295
"pigeon blood" is an overused term traditionaly used to describe the best red colored rubies.
Now days if your selling its "pigeon blood" red and if your buying its just plain ol red.
http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/pigeons-blood-mogok.htm
Im going to wait and see if one of the experts tackles the heat treatment question if not ill drop some links in here as time allows.
Now days if your selling its "pigeon blood" red and if your buying its just plain ol red.
http://www.ruby-sapphire.com/pigeons-blood-mogok.htm
Im going to wait and see if one of the experts tackles the heat treatment question if not ill drop some links in here as time allows.
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 538
Well, there is a lot to say, but to speak strictly of aesthetics:
Cooked stones look flashy unreal and artificial if you compare them with natural hues.
A good natural color is much more pleasing to the eye and, of course, they are actually rare. (and that is what gems are about, isn’t it?)
Two more reasons to stay with untreated stones: They don’t loose but gain value and some say untreated stone are better for your health. (You''ll find some articles and reports about it on my website.)
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2002
- Messages
- 4,924
If it weren't for treatments there wouldn't be enough gem supply at reasonable prices for the populace. It would be like the old days, where only the rich and upper economic class could enjoy the beauty of fine gemstones.
In that respect, treatments are a good thing. As long as they are properly disclosed and the consumer knows what they are buying, it's not a problem.
Usually after getting into gems, people become more and more knowledgeable about things like quality, and treatments. As they become older, they often become more affluent and discriminating, gravitating towards finer quality and greater rarity.
A subset of this gem buying population are people intrigued by the idea of a gem being unaltered by man. Their eye becomes more attuned to the unique nuances of beauty found in these stones, and the fact they are non-enhanced appeals to their intellect/emotions.
They also begin to realize the extreme rarity of these stones, and the fact that certain sizes and qualities of particular gem species hold their value very well, and often appreciate in value over the years. This factor additionally impacts their decision to pay more for these gems than enhanced stones.
----------------
Then you've got those who would rather buy a fine synthetic and a boat instead...
In that respect, treatments are a good thing. As long as they are properly disclosed and the consumer knows what they are buying, it's not a problem.
Usually after getting into gems, people become more and more knowledgeable about things like quality, and treatments. As they become older, they often become more affluent and discriminating, gravitating towards finer quality and greater rarity.
A subset of this gem buying population are people intrigued by the idea of a gem being unaltered by man. Their eye becomes more attuned to the unique nuances of beauty found in these stones, and the fact they are non-enhanced appeals to their intellect/emotions.
They also begin to realize the extreme rarity of these stones, and the fact that certain sizes and qualities of particular gem species hold their value very well, and often appreciate in value over the years. This factor additionally impacts their decision to pay more for these gems than enhanced stones.
----------------
Then you've got those who would rather buy a fine synthetic and a boat instead...
widget
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 4,255
Very very well said, Mr. Sherwood!
Considerably better put than my rather flippant remark above about "snob appeal"
I''m actually a perfect example of one who''s tastes and sentiments regarding gemstones has changed over the years.
One of the very first gemstones I ever acquired (many many years ago) is a very pretty ruby that is heat treated and fracture-filled. While obviously it is just as pretty as it was the day I bought it, it now holds absolutely NO magic for me. The stone hasn''t changed...I have!
widget
Considerably better put than my rather flippant remark above about "snob appeal"
I''m actually a perfect example of one who''s tastes and sentiments regarding gemstones has changed over the years.
One of the very first gemstones I ever acquired (many many years ago) is a very pretty ruby that is heat treated and fracture-filled. While obviously it is just as pretty as it was the day I bought it, it now holds absolutely NO magic for me. The stone hasn''t changed...I have!
widget
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 538
Yes, very well said in deed.
But: With today’s competition and availability over the web everybody can afford untreated gems if he wants to.
It is a question of perception and taste. Once you have tasted e.g. smoked wild salmon, you can''t go back to the fat and colored farm fish they sell in any supermarket as "salmon" these days.
I don''t think it is snobby, but rather say you lower your consumption to your budget instead of lowering your taste to the needs of mass production.
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
But: With today’s competition and availability over the web everybody can afford untreated gems if he wants to.
It is a question of perception and taste. Once you have tasted e.g. smoked wild salmon, you can''t go back to the fat and colored farm fish they sell in any supermarket as "salmon" these days.
I don''t think it is snobby, but rather say you lower your consumption to your budget instead of lowering your taste to the needs of mass production.
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
Cave Keeper
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 264
Please permit me to just say that it may be more than fact and intellect. Some people who are into spirituality, meditation and psychic exploration sometimes feel sensitivity to the differences in energy emanating from crystals and perhaps also gemstones. I believe such people will claim that they can feel a lot of difference in the level or quality of vibrations coming out of non-treated crystals vs. heavily treated gemstones.
widget
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2004
- Messages
- 4,255
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 538
Cave keeper:
Sure, everybody following for example the rules of Jyotish gemstones for healing will insist on untreated stones.
Besides that, I do feel the same when looking into a stone that I know has been treated – it just doesn’t touch me.
Furthermore I have even started to imagine that I can “feel” whether a stone is treated or not. But since that is not a very exact analysis, I leave the final judgment to the gemologists and rely on our supply chain.
Widget:
Yes, multicarat natural rubies are and will always be super expensive.
I wanted to say: if one can''t afford to collect untreated rubies, you may today at least collect untreated red spinel or rhodolite.
That was not possible 500 years ago when all gemstones were reserved for the super rich only.
Yet, since spinel and garnet have always been mistaken for ruby you can have a lot of beauty and collector fun on a moderate budget.
Richard Sheerwood:
It has been treatment that made mass production of sapphire possible, but only the internet made them available to everybody.
If the web hadn’t uncloaked the pricing of gemstones, I am sure they would still be selling the treated sapphires on the same level (in a cartel similar to the beers) and just not tell anybody.
Not treatment, but the web is responsible for the democratic availability of gems.
Edward Bristol
http://www.wildfishgems.comhttp://www.wildfishgems.com
Sure, everybody following for example the rules of Jyotish gemstones for healing will insist on untreated stones.
Besides that, I do feel the same when looking into a stone that I know has been treated – it just doesn’t touch me.
Furthermore I have even started to imagine that I can “feel” whether a stone is treated or not. But since that is not a very exact analysis, I leave the final judgment to the gemologists and rely on our supply chain.
Widget:
Yes, multicarat natural rubies are and will always be super expensive.
I wanted to say: if one can''t afford to collect untreated rubies, you may today at least collect untreated red spinel or rhodolite.
That was not possible 500 years ago when all gemstones were reserved for the super rich only.
Yet, since spinel and garnet have always been mistaken for ruby you can have a lot of beauty and collector fun on a moderate budget.
Richard Sheerwood:
It has been treatment that made mass production of sapphire possible, but only the internet made them available to everybody.
If the web hadn’t uncloaked the pricing of gemstones, I am sure they would still be selling the treated sapphires on the same level (in a cartel similar to the beers) and just not tell anybody.
Not treatment, but the web is responsible for the democratic availability of gems.
Edward Bristol
http://www.wildfishgems.comhttp://www.wildfishgems.com
Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2002
- Messages
- 4,924
When I was retailing, I once had a woman come in who said she was a "healer", and wanted to buy some untreated stones from me.
She claimed that she could tell the difference, and proceeded to look through my inventory. She asked me not to tell her what was treated or not, and instead held each stone in her hands for a few seconds, and then would tell me whether it was treated or not.
She was right every time...
Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2002
- Messages
- 4,924
Untreated precious gems have always sold for a premium over treated.
I agree that the web has created the means of democratic availability of gems, but if there were no supply (such as the mass production of fine blue sapphire from pale blue "gueda") then there would be no availability, and the untreated stones would be even more expensive because of increased demand and limited supply, hence being even more unavailable to the average person.
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 538
Yes,
I had similar experiences. Same thing. Most disturbing.
I am originaly a scientist, so it is hard for me to follow but it is "true".
Though I can''t explain it I would never buy a stone that gives me that treated-feeling.
Kind of questions my whole rational concept of this world and I can only retreat to the thought that we just have not yet found out about those "energies" and that it might become as much reality one day as electricity is today.
The doctor who started to talk about tiny germs in the blood that make you sick ended up in a mental hospital 200 years ago...
Fact seems to be: treatment does something to gems that changes their energy.
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
I had similar experiences. Same thing. Most disturbing.
I am originaly a scientist, so it is hard for me to follow but it is "true".
Though I can''t explain it I would never buy a stone that gives me that treated-feeling.
Kind of questions my whole rational concept of this world and I can only retreat to the thought that we just have not yet found out about those "energies" and that it might become as much reality one day as electricity is today.
The doctor who started to talk about tiny germs in the blood that make you sick ended up in a mental hospital 200 years ago...
Fact seems to be: treatment does something to gems that changes their energy.
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
Cave Keeper
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 264
===================================
Don''t know about whether the Web contributed to the collapse of the gemstone markets, but World-wide advances in irradiation technology should account for new centers of the production resulting in the sudden appearance of countless of thousands of fantastic-looking (substitute ''Kashmir Blue'', ''Cornfluor Blue'', ''Pigeon Blood'' or whatever suits your taste) sapphires and rubies on the Net; those new centers of production have ignored or will not learn the discipline of monopolistic or olipolistic practices, resulting in a consequent and drastic fall in prices of fantastic-looking sapphires and rubies. Modern sophistication in the control of the process of bombardment of crystals with electrons may perhaps still leave such treated stones with the status of ''untreated'' if there is no detectable traces left behind by the process.
(Hope I''m talking sense as the actual technical processes are a bit way above my head as I''m only a layman when it comes to gemmology and engineering.)
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
- Messages
- 15,808
Well.. I have some rather odd idea about this: for 'looks' alone syntetics sound better to me and if value is of concern than it makes sense to look for whatever holds value outside the shop. For some reason, compromises between these extremes (Be treatemnt, high heat, clarity enhancement) seem more questionable and hard to love.
It doesn't help that 'heat treatment' got to mean a few different things: how much heat matters, I would venture to guess. You hear about this 'low heat' treatment that does wash away the 'untreated' aura of rarity but does little harm to the status of an already desirable gem. It is unusual enough to have to consider such detail - for once there should be a lab report identifying types of treatment and a rather detailed chat with the seller. But... it is easy to blurr the line. IMO, the very best colors are rare enough - lack of treatment would just push 'rare' into 'unbelievable'. Up to you to judge how important is that.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 645
I guess its fair to say that heated vs unheated comes down to desire and your pocketbook but just to clarify for those who think that fine heated ruby and sapphire are common or available let me tell you they are not.
In the heating process the only changes that can take place are those made possible by the internal chemistry of the stone. Thus, a fine color heated ruby and sapphire is very rare! Yes unenhanced stones are rarer and sell for the appropriate premium. Widget mentioned my site: I have a 3.3 carat heated ruby on my site that is the finest 3 carat I have ever seen. I have never seen either a heated or an unheated stone comparable at any price.
I spent two weeks in Bangkok and Burma looking for a gem quality unheated 6 carat. Price was not an object. I could find nothing at all that was even close to fine.
In the heating process the only changes that can take place are those made possible by the internal chemistry of the stone. Thus, a fine color heated ruby and sapphire is very rare! Yes unenhanced stones are rarer and sell for the appropriate premium. Widget mentioned my site: I have a 3.3 carat heated ruby on my site that is the finest 3 carat I have ever seen. I have never seen either a heated or an unheated stone comparable at any price.
I spent two weeks in Bangkok and Burma looking for a gem quality unheated 6 carat. Price was not an object. I could find nothing at all that was even close to fine.
Cave Keeper
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 264
=========================================
Went to the rwwise.com site, did a search but could find "3 carat ruby".
I find it strange that a 9.35 carat Burmese Ruby was sold at more than $100,000 per carat while the 486.52 carat Blue Giant Of The Orient, a Blue Sapphire discovered in Ceylon in 1907 and probably the largest one in the World, could only fetch about the same amount of one million dollars in May, 2004 in the auction rooms of Christies in Geneva.
Richard Sherwood
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2002
- Messages
- 4,924
Cave, there has been no "collapse of the gemstone markets". Far from it. Colored stones are more popular than ever, and prices are steadily increasing.
Additionally there is no "sudden appearance of countless thousands of fantastic looking sapphires and rubies on the Net". And as Richard W. points out, there is unlikely to be in the future, as a fine treated stone requires an original product of certain specifications.
Gems are rare, both treated and untreated.
maxspinel
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 193
It seems that some collectors are very biased with unheated stones but the mass public are free to make their choice. Depending on the consumer''s liking, she/he can buy synthetics, heated or unheated stones as they please provided they pay the fair value since all these stones aesthetically and chemcially are essentially the same.
I have no problem that value is being attached to a rare object or sometimes, to the perception that an object is rare. Rarity in a lot of cases has no bearing on the beauty of an item. I really don''t think an unheated stone is always more beautiful and desirable than a heated stone. I am always marvelled at the ingenuity of human''s ability to enhance and perfect nature. As a result, we consumers now have a chance to own these beautiful gems, at the price range of our choice. Also, there is nothing wrong about imitating/enhancing/perfecting nature. We are doing that everyday in all aspects of life: scientists are improving genetics of different animals/crops to make a better breed and increase the yield, dentists are straighenting patients teeth so they have a better look, optometrists are fitting clients with contact lens to get rid of the glasses, drugs are being developed everyday to cure diseases.
Beauty and so as value can be skin deep. They can go in an out of fashion depending on the eye of the beholder.
I have no problem that value is being attached to a rare object or sometimes, to the perception that an object is rare. Rarity in a lot of cases has no bearing on the beauty of an item. I really don''t think an unheated stone is always more beautiful and desirable than a heated stone. I am always marvelled at the ingenuity of human''s ability to enhance and perfect nature. As a result, we consumers now have a chance to own these beautiful gems, at the price range of our choice. Also, there is nothing wrong about imitating/enhancing/perfecting nature. We are doing that everyday in all aspects of life: scientists are improving genetics of different animals/crops to make a better breed and increase the yield, dentists are straighenting patients teeth so they have a better look, optometrists are fitting clients with contact lens to get rid of the glasses, drugs are being developed everyday to cure diseases.
Beauty and so as value can be skin deep. They can go in an out of fashion depending on the eye of the beholder.
BWise
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2004
- Messages
- 1,432
TOTALLY AGREE!
A consumer shall be able to buy whatever please the eyes, and the pocketbook. Thanks to the web and PS in specific, consumers are becoming better educated and are making informed choices. That's the beauty of information technology.
Improvements in gem stone treatments helped in putting more gems in the market at affordable prices. The web, helped to increase NOT the supply, but the demands - how many of us had found ourselves become more attracted to one or more variety of color stones after cruising PS? Count me as one!
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2003
- Messages
- 15,808
True enough. Now, I really do believe most buyers'' pitfalls come from such choice - significant tradeoffs between ''rarity'' and ''beauty''. If the thing doesn''t look good enough, rarity is meaningless. Perhaps I should refrain from big words, because I am not expert. I''ve just tried to learn as much as I could and came up with this belief among a couple of other and lots of questions. IMO, If in doubt try to take a look at Richard Wise''s book and website. And this. (reader beware - once opened, this webpage is inescapable! First time I spent 18 hours or so on it...) Not that there is no room for some vastly differing opinion, but it is always worth considering strong, well documented, constructive and expereinced opposition
Of course, anyone is free to spend a fortune on something that has meaning just for themselves and no other. But that is a personal decission that does need some questioning: if no one else(or few) would value that thing, where does the high price come from anyway ! Sometimes the reality-check question sounds silly and has an obvious answer one way or another. Sometimes it is just the thing one needs to get away from a ripoff.
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2003
- Messages
- 645
Ana,
Well said. Duke Ellington was once asked: "how do you know when music is good?" His response: "If it sounds good, it is good"! So too in the world of gems: "If it looks good, it is good." The inverse through logically falacious is also true.
Concerns about rarity are secondary. Fact is the finest grade of amethyst (carat size) is rarer than a D Flawless diamond. Now the diamond will sell for 17k plus wholesale per carat and the amethyst maybe $between 25-50.00 per carat. Why? Supply and demand, demand, in one case supercharged by aggressive marketing, coupled with ignorance.
Fact is no one needs a gemstone. You can''t eat them, they have no nutritional value. A gem won''t keep you warm in winter nor will it keep off the rain. It is simply an object of desire. So, why spend $85,000 on a 3.30 carat ruby heated, unheated? Well I''ve got the object if you''ve got the desire.
Well said. Duke Ellington was once asked: "how do you know when music is good?" His response: "If it sounds good, it is good"! So too in the world of gems: "If it looks good, it is good." The inverse through logically falacious is also true.
Concerns about rarity are secondary. Fact is the finest grade of amethyst (carat size) is rarer than a D Flawless diamond. Now the diamond will sell for 17k plus wholesale per carat and the amethyst maybe $between 25-50.00 per carat. Why? Supply and demand, demand, in one case supercharged by aggressive marketing, coupled with ignorance.
Fact is no one needs a gemstone. You can''t eat them, they have no nutritional value. A gem won''t keep you warm in winter nor will it keep off the rain. It is simply an object of desire. So, why spend $85,000 on a 3.30 carat ruby heated, unheated? Well I''ve got the object if you''ve got the desire.
BWise
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2004
- Messages
- 1,432
movie zombie
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2005
- Messages
- 11,879
find the ruby:
http://www.rwwise.com/index_content.html
go to gallery, then gemstones, then ruby: 3.30 burma ruby for a mere $85,000.
richard w has others listed that are not in the same per carat price range.......
peace, movie zombie
Cave Keeper
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 264
Thanks, Movie Zombie. I missed the right turning.
Now I know what Pigeon Blood color should look like. Thanks, too, Richard (Wise).
Look at the price thing from another angle. A gentleman might wish to give a gemstone to his lady companion. If price is no consideration, and he feels his lady is so special, is he going to give her a lemon? If he wishes her to think highly of his devotion to her, he''d think twice, right? Of course, if she''s just a temporary peasant type, he probably think he can get by with a cheap Heated red stone, or even a plastic one.
Can you imagine Prince Charles getting an extremely Heated 10 carat opaque Blook Red Ruby from eBay (with due respect to eBay as the premier auction site on the Web; no insult intended) instead of that gigantic Tanzanite from Harry Winston, or some other highly respectable Regent Street gem store for his beloved Diana?
Now I know what Pigeon Blood color should look like. Thanks, too, Richard (Wise).
Look at the price thing from another angle. A gentleman might wish to give a gemstone to his lady companion. If price is no consideration, and he feels his lady is so special, is he going to give her a lemon? If he wishes her to think highly of his devotion to her, he''d think twice, right? Of course, if she''s just a temporary peasant type, he probably think he can get by with a cheap Heated red stone, or even a plastic one.
Can you imagine Prince Charles getting an extremely Heated 10 carat opaque Blook Red Ruby from eBay (with due respect to eBay as the premier auction site on the Web; no insult intended) instead of that gigantic Tanzanite from Harry Winston, or some other highly respectable Regent Street gem store for his beloved Diana?
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 538
BUT: Has the consumer really the choice between treated and untreated stone?
Rarely!
For the normal consumer there is little or no choice. (and little awareness yet too, people on this site are far from normal gem consumers.)
The traditional chaos in the multi (10+) level supply chain does all to prevent consumers from really choosing.
No documentation, no bookkeeping, no reports straight down to the jeweler, that is the rule for 999 out of 1000 stones.
Only when the stone justifies a $200++ dollar test or comes from a very reliable source can the consumer choose.
Also, the last years have shown that we are far from understanding or even ex-post tracking of all that is going on in the Asian treatment industry. Let alone new processes around radiation and diffusion in Indonesia or China.
From the points of view of those who earned billions over the decades burning Geuda into sapphire and those who have their safes full of treated stones that is very understandable. Anually 18 tons of Geuda are exported from Sri Lanka. That''s a lot of sapphire!
In the Japanese gem market traders are bullied and might end up being thrown out of the gem association if they start on this topic. They are a huge economic interest to keep the status quo.
All in all, we are just beginning to guess the tip of the iceberg.
To actually give consumers a choice the whole gem trade would have to be straightened out and reorganized. (as done in the food industry, garment or electronics over the last 50 years)
Given the speed of social and economical change in countries like Sri Lanka or Madagascar and the mentioned economic counter forces in the trade itself, I would say this will need another few decades.
Surely the gem trade will be the last industry to join modern times but the web helps.
Edward Bristol
www.wildfishgems.com
maxspinel
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 193
We need to give some credit to the consumers, we are not that uninformed. With my pocket book, if I want and can afford a beautiful heated ruby, there is no reason for me to settle with an unheated spinel even though it is a gorgeous gem in its own way.
True, a lot of people are making money over the heated gem business but so are the dealers holding unheated gems and trying to collect a high premium over them. The flood of uheated gems have caused the price of overall gems to go down, even the unheated ones, but this is healthy competition and all the better for the consumers.
As it was said, gems have no true value; in time of war or femine, it is no better than a piece of bread. Aluminum was once a highly priced rare metal, more precious than gold and platinum. The price tumbled one day when a process was developed to extract the metal from the ore in mass quality. Will gems follow its footsteps eventually since chemically identical synthetics are available at a fraction of the price? We''ll see but as long as the economy remains prosperous, people have money to spare and somehow they are convinced that gems have some perceived value, the legend will go on.
True, a lot of people are making money over the heated gem business but so are the dealers holding unheated gems and trying to collect a high premium over them. The flood of uheated gems have caused the price of overall gems to go down, even the unheated ones, but this is healthy competition and all the better for the consumers.
As it was said, gems have no true value; in time of war or femine, it is no better than a piece of bread. Aluminum was once a highly priced rare metal, more precious than gold and platinum. The price tumbled one day when a process was developed to extract the metal from the ore in mass quality. Will gems follow its footsteps eventually since chemically identical synthetics are available at a fraction of the price? We''ll see but as long as the economy remains prosperous, people have money to spare and somehow they are convinced that gems have some perceived value, the legend will go on.
- Status
Featured Topics
300x240.png)