Treatment is vital for the colored gemstone supply chain, ICA Congress hears

BRASILIA, Brazil – Treatments are vital for the colored gemstone supply chain, field gemologist Wim Vertriest of the GIA told the ICA Congress.

“Treatment allows us to utilize much more rough,” Mr Vertriest said.

“Treatment provides us with a range of gems in different price ranges.”

Mr Vertriest said the market would struggle to offer an extremely rare, non-heated ruby if it were not possible to utilize the less desirable rough in the mine.

Treatments make the more widely available rough stones appealing to jewelry customers.

The essence of field gemology is a better understanding of colored gemstones, Mr Vertriest said.

The ICA Congress runs until May 22.