Need advice re treated blue diamonds, please

[Kay]

I have been looking at irradiated blue diamonds on Ebay. I realize they do not look the same as natural blue diamonds, but I happen to like the funky "neon" greenish blue color they have after treatment, and think it would be fun to have one for a necklace or pendant if I can pick one up that is not too expensive.

Is the color treatment permanent? Does it weaken the diamond?

There is not much cut information given, so I assume the cuts are just ok, not what we usually go for around here. Will the cut quality make a lot of difference in a colored diamond (where the focus is more on the color than the light return)?

What is a fair per carat price to pay for an irradiated VS or SI diamond with an ok cut?

 

[winyan]

I have a tennis bracelet and 1 ct total weight earring in irradiated blue diamonds.

I got them on e-bay and think I paid a total of $600 for both.

I'm no expert, but though native cut, the diamonds are fairly clear, with no huge inclusions...probably about an SI2.

win

 

[Griffin]

The color is permanent and in no way affects the strength of the stone.

There is only one way an irradiated blue diamond can lose or change color, and that is from badly overheating it (well over 1000 degrees F), but this requires something clearly into very radically abusive neglect and a big torch. Not something you have to worry about.

Irradiated diamonds come in all variety of colors of blue, not just the "neon" green-blue you describe. These are the most obviously irradiated and therefore usually cheaper, but some irradiated come out more natural blues as well. I have a small parcel of blue melee that looks quite like quality sapphire, except with a diamonds fire.

I don't know of any vendors selling small irradiated colored stones that are currently marketing the cut quality. This would indeed be an interesting niche market. I wonder if the demographic that cares about cut would shun the stones for being irradiated, as that market appears to also value natural stones.
Any stone vendors have observations on this?