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Last updated:  June 2006

Basic Heat Treatment:

Basic heat treatment of sapphire is standard for the industry and buyers should  assume that all sapphire has undergone this process unless otherwise stated with supporting paperwork (lab certificate, etc). This simple process of heating the sapphire has been carried out for centuries and is a stable, permanent process which improves the appearance of many sapphires as it simply finishes the natural process of gem formation. 

Clarity is improved slightly as tiny rutile inclusions (known as “silk”) are dissolved within the structure of the gem. Temperatures used in the process are lower than that used for bulk diffusion treatments and no other chemicals apart from those present in air (hydrogen and oxygen) are added.  The colour of our type of sapphire is not significantly altered using this process - clarity and brightness is improved as “silk” is dissolved.

Some of our production benefits from this treatment and status will be indicated by use of the words “Basic heat treatment only”.  Aussie Sapphire does not support the use of chemical enhancement treatments such as beryllium treatment and do not use these processes on our sapphire.

The following links provide further reading on heat treatment of sapphire:

• Comprehensive information and new announcements from Ted Themelis on various treatments of ruby and sapphire - Gemlab Inc.
• Brief history of heat treatment by Richard Hughes
• Article on sapphire treatment of sapphire by Jim Elliott (Coolamon Sapphire)

Basic heat treatment has been done for many centuries and is an accepted process within the industry. While we cut our gems fully natural wherever possible, much of the smaller calibrated cut sapphires and some of the larger custom cut sapphires have had basic heat treatment.  We do not support the use of more radical treatments such as Beryllium Treatment - see here for more information on these new forms of enhancement treatments.