Sneaky Synthetic Sapphire

22 Mar 2017By P. TorracaGemcutting, Gemology, Journal, Q&A
Sneaky Synthetic Sapphire

One of my clients purchased a fine selection of larger sized sapphire rough from Umba, Tanzania. The stones were all nicely shaped and great colors. But in reviewing the stones for cutting, I noticed one that didn’t seem quite right. It seemed to be a water-worn sapphire cobble, but the fracture pattern on one side … Read More

Q&A: Heating Zircon

18 Dec 2015By P. TorracaQ&A, Transformations, Uncategorized
Q&A: Heating Zircon

Question: I am curious about the process of changing the color to colorless. I had read online that the color can be changed by heating at home, is this so (or just silly internet advice)? I am considering changing its color if so… Answer: Yes, you can heat zircon yourself and without special equipment. Many … Read More