Untreated vs Treated

[blingmeupscotty]

I am the first to admit I haven't looked into treated vs untreated gemstones. The little research I have done, seems very familiar to me price wise in comparison to purchasing a diamond. Treated diamonds [in any form] seem to be less expensive than unenhanced. This seems to be the case for instance in this mornings rabbit hole for sapphires, heated vs non heated/treated. Is it just the "way it is" for supply and demand? Just point me in the direction of a thread or article and a clicking I will go.
I appreciate all commentary here no one is right or wrong! I'll absorb all IMHO's

tyvm

 

[VividRed]

Oh boy, that’s a BIG topic!

I think you will find extremely useful information in one of the pinned threads on this forum.

However, if you want the easy peasy version, you could start with the GIA website: https://www.gia.edu/gem-treatment.

Generally speaking, colored stones are treated to be made more attractive, i.e. easier to sell and at a higher price compared to when they are untreated but less ideal in terms of color and clarity. This means that untreated gems may be ugly ducklings, in fact the vast majority of them are - which case no premium should ever be paid. They can, however, also sit at the pinnacle of gem beauty. These stones, who achieve such beauty without additional man made treatments, command a premium due to their rarity. Makes sense?

 

[blingmeupscotty]

wow..thank you clicking I will go

 

[blingmeupscotty]

Oh boy, that’s a BIG topic!

I think you will find extremely useful information in one of the pinned threads on this forum.

However, if you want the easy peasy version, you could start with the GIA website: https://www.gia.edu/gem-treatment.

Generally speaking, colored stones are treated to be made more attractive, i.e. easier to sell and at a higher price compared to when they are untreated but less ideal in terms of color and clarity. This means that untreated gems may be ugly ducklings, in fact the vast majority of them are - which case no premium should ever be paid. They can, however, also sit at the pinnacle of gem beauty. These stones, who achieve such beauty without additional man made treatments, command a premium due to their rarity. Makes sense?

That is fascinating stuff thank you for the link!

 

[peacechick]

Think of it as plastic surgery for gems. Those gems that come out of the earth already naturally beautiful without any enhancement will of course be rarer and more sought after.

 

[rbjd]

With colored gems I think it comes down to personal taste. What is certain is that completely natural unheated untreated gems of any fine color are far more rare than treated gems. Gems are treated to improve color or clarity or both. If they came out of the ground with perfect clarity and color they wouldn’t need treatments.

Treatments can include heating, radiation, oiling, dyeing, resins. Some of these are minor and some major. Some are permanent and some are temporary. I think for purposes of rarity and value, no treatment is better than any treatments. Minor treatments are better than radical treatments.

A pure blue clean unheated sapphire is rarer than a heated sapphire but might have inclusions that would be eliminated with heating.

Brown tanzanite and zircon both turn beautiful shades of blue with simple heating.

Some gems are *generally* untreated, like spinel and garnets. Others are *generally* treated, like blue zircon. Or emeralds and most rubies.

There are a lot of considerations with colored gems. Mohs scale. Refractive index. Dispersion. Silk. Transparency. Color purity and intensity. Brilliance. Extinction. Windows. Size. Cut. Planned use. It’s complicated.

The trick is knowing what you want, buying what you like without overpaying, and getting what you pay for.