Post subject: Beryllium Treatment of Blue Sapphires Followup
Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:35 pm
It seems that AGTA and GIA has confirmed that significant amounts of Beryllium was detected in some 56 samples of blue sapphires sent by AIGS for testing. Specimens were tested with calibrated LA-ICP MS with element-in-sapphire calibrated standards.
Beryllium treatment with prolonged heating apparently was used to lighten dark blue sapphires.
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:10 pm Posts: 436 Location: Australia
The Blue Sapphire market in Thailand currently has almost ceased,
we are actually doing much more trade then before, however larger volume trade is difficult. I think a lot are just playing a waiting game.
It is very true that this has been very bad for the entire industry, but we need to push on and change our marketing to make the best of a bad thing.
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:10 pm Posts: 436 Location: Australia
Hello,
I believe some of our Australian stone may carry too much iron and is most likely not suitable for this kind of beryllium treatment.
We currently have a colleague in Thailand doing business, he has arranged a meeting through some locals with a well respected cooker belived to be doing this new treatment. We hope to gain any information to help us in our push to promote the "REAL THING" - we will never use this method as adding extra chemicals and going to the extraodinary lengths of cooking for up to two weeks at extreme temperatures simply isnt necessary at this time or in the near future.
One thing that is very clear is that the claim that these new treatments are necessary to supply the demand of good blue sapphire into the future are completely FALSE. There is still plenty of good quality sapphire available even with no new finds of resource for several years. The need to turn worthless (or far less valuable) corundum into artificially good gems is a short sighted grab for wealth or simply to big name the man who discovered it possible. Might as well just buy synthetic! If great Blue Sapphire was in short supply, I may view this unnecessary alteration of a natural product in a slightly different light.
I know that my view may be questioned and yes we do use basic heat treatment on some of our production (with complete disclosure!). However finishing a rough with low heat ( under 1200 degress) in natural atmosphere cannot and should not be compared with this radical method. We sell all our rough fully natural and as much cut as we can this way with signed documents backing up this.
I will be interested to hear more from Ted Themelis on the subject - unfortunately, we will be away from base and may not be able to log in to the chat but we will try.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum