montana sapphires -- treatment

[bluegirl123]

Hi there,

I am curious if montana sapphires are treated beyond simple heat. I guess my thinking is that being from the USA, they would not be...? But I guess there is no stopping them from shipping them anywhere to get more extreme treatment.

Thanks

 

[Pandora II]

Hi there,

I am curious if montana sapphires are treated beyond simple heat. I guess my thinking is that being from the USA, they would not be...? But I guess there is no stopping them from shipping them anywhere to get more extreme treatment.

Thanks

Correct

 

[Edward Bristol]

Yes, I often get offers from Thailand to sell our pale Montana sapphires for BE treatement.

 

[bluegirl123]

Alright that's a shame

Thanks!

 

[Edward Bristol]

Well, not a 'shame' but a fact of the market.

Anything that is 'natural corundum' (the uglier the better) will be colored and sold as sapphire.

Nothing bad about it as long as you pay only ugly stuff + treatment-cost + margin. $50/carat for such stuff is too much. A few $ per carat is OK.

 

[mastercutgems]

I know it is a shame; but I think many will remember about 15 years ago; that many of the Montana sapphire mine leases were bought out by what they thought were Canadians; but then found out to be Taiwanese buying through the Canadians. Yes it was a mixed up mess; but the Montana sapphire is a prime candidate for diffusion as many have that grey mask to it.. Still clear enough after basic heat to be a brilliant gem; but sometimes a little off in color; which diffusion will correct as they can make it about any color they choose now... They surface diffused and also Be diffuse them; it was like many selling heated Australian sapphires as Ceylon, or Burma... too bad they can only tell on some as there are some that do not have trace elements for particular localities; that is why AGTA, GIA, and some other labs could not give you an origin report as there was nothing in the gem that was a dead ringer for the location per the type of inclusion or mineral make-up... So just because it is a Montana sapphire does not mean it was cut or treated in America

But many cutters/dealers still deal with the unheated and the basic heated Montana sapphires. Most are going to be that teal or blue-green color which I like; but it is not the classic blue unless you get the yogo gulch area material but that too can be different colors.

Is there nothing sacred in gemstones any longer ???

Oh well it really makes you want to keep investing in good testing equipment as they are getting more slick every day...

Most respectfully;

Dana Reynolds, csmg