Blue diffusion-treated sapphires have become a subject of considerable controversy since their introduction in significant quantities a few years ago. Now it appears that diffusion-treated corundum in additional colors, including red, may also be a commercial reality in the near future. At the request of the treater, the authors examined faceted specimens in a range of colors to document their gemological properties and determine identification criteria prior to any commercial release. Diagnostic features include unusually high refractive-index readings, atypical dichroism, atypical luminescence, patchy surface coloration, color concentrations along facet junctions, and spherical voids just below the surface.
Blue diffusion-treated sapphires have become a subject of considerable controversy since their introduction in significant quantities a few years ago. Now it appears that diffusion-treated corundum in additional colors, including red, may also be a commercial reality in the near future. At the request of the treater, the authors examined faceted specimens in a range of colors to document their gemological properties and determine identification criteria prior to any commercial release. Diagnostic features include unusually high refractive-index readings, atypical dichroism, atypical luminescence, patchy surface coloration, color concentrations along facet junctions, and spherical voids just below the surface.