Spinel heated and diffused

[Dioptase]

Well, that's not a very good news.

GRS ALERT 22nd May 2015: New type of treatment of spinel discovered involving heat-treatment and Cobalt-diffusion.

http://www.gemresearch.ch/news/2015-05-22_Diffusion_Treatment/index.htm

 

[Marlow]

Thank you!!!

I hate this - as a collector of Co-Spinel sad but valuable news!!

 

[Dioptase]

Thank you!!!

I hate this - as a collector of Co-Spinel sad but valuable news!!

I know how you feel. Heating, oiling and now diffusion...

 

[Arcadian]

UGH!!!! man I tell you they sure do know how to mess up a good thing!

 

[SparkliesLuver]

UGH!!!! man I tell you they sure do know how to mess up a good thing!

+1

 

[LoversKites]

Good to be aware. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Marlow]

Thank you!!!

I hate this - as a collector of Co-Spinel sad but valuable news!!

I know how you feel. Heating, oiling and now diffusion...

I bought enough - so only a top quality ( vivid blue ) from Sri Lanka is missing and I buy only from vendors I can trust without a lab report
( Dr. Hyrsl, D. Gravier).

 

[T L]

Oh well, so much for buying anymore blue spinel.

 

[Marlow]

New to me - Cobalt spinel from Tansania!!!

http://www.gemresearch.ch/journal/No11/ContributionNo11.pdf

They say that if more then 40 ppm Co they call it a cobalt spinel ( Cobalt is a very strong coloring agent). But it is the first time that
Tanzania produces them too...

 

[Acinom]

Ewww
Thanks for sharing

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

This is why we can't have nice things.......

 

[Dioptase]

I bought enough - so only a top quality ( vivid blue ) from Sri Lanka is missing and I buy only from vendors I can trust without a lab report
( Dr. Hyrsl, D. Gravier).

Not easy to find!

 

[ElleK]

I was so upset to read this!

 

[Cognition]

This is sad news, indeed

@marlow Depending ur preference of blue hue, pala does have two great ceylon blue spinel. Inv no. 21745 and 20467
you might also want to consider 16650. it's a luc yen, Vietnam, blue spinel, but this is the quality that I have not seen for a while. Although, I have to admit, the price tag come along with these stone is outrageous

 

[Marlow]

I bought enough - so only a top quality ( vivid blue ) from Sri Lanka is missing and I buy only from vendors I can trust without a lab report
( Dr. Hyrsl, D. Gravier).

Not easy to find!

Otherwise collecting is no fun....

 

[Dioptase]

@Marlow: Can't argue against that

 

[chrono]

A sign of more undisclosed troubling treatment methods coming to us all soon. This spinel is overly dark so I think they are testing it at the moment, hoping to end up with a brighter blue. In any case, just the thought and knowledge of this is unsettling. At the rate the gem quality, pricing and treatment are headed, I think I'd better keep my learner stones instead of sell them!

 

[shulaibaoma]

Thank you for sharing. That's sad...........