The Be-treated sapphire (beryllium) has found its way into the market
for a number of years by now. As a sapphire mining and cutting
factory here in the largest China sapphire mine, we are not sure
whether we should Be Treat or Not to Be Treat our sapphires in the
days to come.
Be treated sapphires show stunningly beautiful colors in pink,
yellow, golden and padparadscha and they are moderately priced. For
us this has imposed disastrous effect on the natural fancy colors
mined and cut by us. Due the yellow and pink sapphire accounts for a
very tiny percentage among all stones mined, the cost for these
natural stones is invariably higher. But for the customers, sometimes
they will complain about the higher price on the natural fancy
sapphires simply neglecting the fact that the other brilliant fancy
sapphires are Be Treated stones. As a result, the natural fancy
sapphire sales dropped and price damaged.
From time to time, we will also heat some of the yellows but never
use beryllium treatment as we thought that would fall into the
category of color diffused sapphire.
So please let me know in your jeweler’s eyes which one makes more
sense, the outstanding color or the natural label?
Been hard to make the decision whether to go Be Treatment on some of
our yellow sapphires.
Hi there. As I understand it, the surface diffusion treatments are
very shallow, so much so that they are treated after faceting.
Stones with a shallow layer of nice color on the outside offer much
less value to a consumer. After a few years of wear, or accidental
breakage, you couldn’t re-facet or even re-polish those stones. For
this reason, we do not buy diffused material, though we do buy heated
(and disclose it - of course). Hope my opinion helps…
Jenny Sweaney
Mardon Jewelers
3640 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
951-682-2325 www.mardonjewelers.com
So please let me know in your jeweler's eyes which one makes more
sense, the outstanding color or the natural label?
Ok…you asked. I make mostly one of a kind, or some of a kind
pieces. I do prefer the natural sapphires, and the natural color.
But that’s just me. I use the treated stones as well, only in very
small sizes,as accents, as I find that most of the larger treated
stones of any kind, often look like fake colors as many of them seem
so harshly bright, some bordering on garish. I mostly prefer muted
colors in faceted stones. Funny I suppose, because my son says that
my work with cabs," looks like candy."
Two cents given.
Lisa, (sitting on the bed with one of the cats, watching the birds
at the 5 birdfeeders hanging from the giant pine just outside the
picture window. We call it “Bird TV”) Topanga, CA USA