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Rarity
For gemstones, rarity is a sliding scale. The rarer the gemstone the more valued
and cherished it is. But its not just rarity that makes a gem more valuable. For
instance, Tsavorite Garnet is rarer than Emerald, but Emerald's history makes it
more sought-after and valuable.
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Durability
Durability refers to a gemstone's ability to withstand wear, heat and chemicals.
Gems that are more durable are more valued, not always though.
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Popularity
Demand for a gemstone influences its value. Some rare gems are relatively unknown
and thus get a reduced demand as well as value. Sometimes marketing of these unknown
gems leads to a surge in popularity boosting their value. Tanzanite used to be relatively
unknown but has become quite popular in recent times.
Enhancement Techniques
Enhancement refers to any kind of treatment given to a gemstone other than cutting
and polishing, in order to improve its appearance, durability and strength. The
enrichment techniques vary with every variety of gemstone.
Commonly used enhancement techniques are:
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Bleaching: It is used to lighten or completely remove the color of the stone.
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Coating: The stone is given a coat of film, enamel, foil etc. to improve
appearance, alter color or add other effects.
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Dyeing: Dyeing involves use of coloring matter to intensify color or establish
increased color uniformity.
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Laser Treatment: A laser beam is used to reach the deeper inclusions in the
stone and alter them.
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Irradiation: This is another technique used to alter the color of the gemstone.
It involves use of neutron and other bombardment and/or heat treatment.
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Bonding: Bonding refers to the filling of a porous gemstone with a non-colored
substance, usually plastic, to give strength.
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Waxing/Oiling: Waxing/oiling is a technique of improving the appearance of
a porous stone by the infusion of colorless wax, paraffin or oil in the pores of
the stone.
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Note: Gemstones may have been enhanced to improve their appearance or durability and may require special care.