When the term enhanced is used it can have a very wide range of connotations. Literally, enhancement could be a simple matter of cutting the rough stone which, in turn, enhances the beauty of the natural rough. Tumble polishing agates is a form of enhancement.
Actually Ron, this is not a gemological definition of
enhancement. Enhancement is the use of processes after mining in
which the gem material is altered in color or clarity by man’s
hand. Simple polishing is not a gemological definition of
enhancement. If it were the case then there would be no need to
disclose any enhancements as ALL except rough crystals
(and even those have usually been cleaned), would be considered
enhanced. I also want to say that I don’t think we are actually
too far apart in our ultimate goals here, which is to make sure
that the ultimate consumer is properly informed of what may or
may not have been done to their stones. And for those of you
retail Orchid members out there who are not disclosing treatment,
please remember that there are a lot of us out there who are
disclosing on a regular basis and it makes the rest of you look
uninformed. )Ron–are you a gem dealer or a jeweler? From the
name of your company I assumed you were a gem dealer but perhaps
I am wrong about this. Daniel R. Spirer, GG Spirer Somes Jewelers
1794 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02140 617-491-6000