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Diffusion treatment is a popular method for treating star sapphire, since the treatment will increase the asterism (the star effect in sapphire and ruby). The diffusion process may reach a depth of half a millimeter into the gemstone.
Lattice diffusion – the penetration of certain elements into the atomic lattice of a gemstone during heat treatment, with the objective of changing or accentuating its color. 1. The most commonly encountered diffused gems include:
28 maj 2020 · Diffusion treatment involves letting a certain chemical seep into a gemstone’s surface under extreme heat. The process lasts a long time, usually over a week. The result? Richer color, or a new color entirely, but only on the thin surface layer.
24 lut 2020 · Over time a new process emerged, called diffusion. In this process the stones go through a bit more than a traditional heat treatment. A diffused stone uses a chemical element to score the surface of the stone, then combining it with the heat of a furnace it is baked into the stone.
Lattice diffusion is a treatment process that uses heat and chemicals to diffuse an element into a gemstone to artificially change its color. Lattice diffusion–treated sapphires can be any color. In some cases the added color is shallow. In others, it goes all the way through the stone.
Learn how to spot diffusion treated gems with a simple immersion test. This common treatment for sapphire can significantly reduce their value and prevents re-cutting and re-polishing.
These stones have become a staple in today's international gem markets. A different but related color-enhancement technique that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s is now also becoming prevalent in the trade: diffusion treatment (see figure 1).
