ENHANCEMENT DEFINITIONS FOR
NATURAL GEMSTONES

N: NATURAL: Those gemstone which are not enhanced.

E: Those gemstones which are normally enhanced. The gemstone has undergone its traditional enhancement process.

B: BLEACHING: The use of heat, light and/or other agents to lighten or remove a gemstone's color.

C: COATING: The use of such surface enhancements as lacquering, enameling, inking, foiling or sputtering of films to improve appearance, provide color or add other special effects.

D: DYEING: The introduction of coloring matter into a gemstone to give it new color, intensify present color or improve color uniformity.

F: FILLING: The filling of surface breaking cavities or fissures with colorless glass, plastic, solidified borax or similar substances, which are visible under properly illuminated 10X magnification. This process will improve durability, appearance and/or add weight.

H: HEATING: The use of heat to affect desired alteration of color, clarity, and/or phenomena.

HP: HEATING AND PRESSURE: The use of heat and pressure combined to affect desired alterations of color and/or clarity.

I: IMPREGNATION: The impregnation of a porous gemstone with a colorless agent (usually plastic) to give it durability and improve appearance.

L: LASERING: The use of a laser and chemicals to reach and alter inclusions in diamonds.

O: OILING/RESIN INFUSION: The filling of surface breaking fissures with colorless oil, wax, resin or other colorless substances, except glass or plastic, to improve the gemstone's appearance.

R: IRRADIATION: The use of neutrons requiring an environmental safety release from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), gamma and/or electron bombardment to alter a gemstone's color. The irradiation may be followed by a heating process.

U: DIFFUSION: The use of chemicals in conjunction with high temperatures to produce color and/or asterism-producing inclusions. If the color of the diffused gemstone does not permeate the entire stone: "Although the color induced in diffusion treated gemstones is permanent, it does not permeate the entire gemstone, therefore, recutting or repolishing is not recommended."

W: WAXING/OILING: The impregnation of a colorless wax, paraffin and oil in porous opaque or translucent gemstones to improve appearance.

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