Chanthaburi Gem Dealers Agree to Disclose Beryllium Treatment
By Cara Woudenberg · Online Editor

CHANTHABURI, THAILAND — At a meeting of the Chanthaburi Gem & Jewelry Association (CGA) on February 19, a group of Thai gem heaters formally agreed to disclose the use of beryllium to enhance the color of corundum.

This decision comes on the heels of an agreement reached by members of the American Gem Trade Association, Jewelers of America, American Gem Society, and Jewelers Vigilance Committee in Tucson in early February on disclosure terminology for beryllium-diffused sapphire. In a press release, the associations said that the treatment should be disclosed as "diffusion (bulk/lattice) treatment." (See Associations Set
Beryllium Disclosure Standards).

The Thai gem community, however, has rejected the diffusion label, and many dealers are simply selling beryllium-diffused sapphire as "heat-treated." That has caused concern among international buyers, because while beryllium diffusion produces a range of bright colors that are rare in nature, it's not always possible to tell by looking if the treatment has been done.

During the recent meeting in Chanthaburi, influential members of the Thai heating community discussed the outcome of the meetings held during the Tucson gem shows, and 60 association members who were present unanimously agreed that:
— Chrysoberyl is being intentionally added to the crucible during the new heat treatment to enhance color in corundum.
— All association members are obligated to disclose and to differentiate the new treatment when selling to customers.

As of February 24, 2003, before the start of the Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, all CGA members are required to adopt a strictly-regulated disclosure system for use in all customer transactions involving the new corundum treatment. Meeting attendees decided that any members — heaters or dealers — who fail to adhere to the new disclosure system would be expelled from the CGA.

The specific details of the new disclosure system are as follows:

N Natural Unheated Corundum
E Thermal Enhancement
A Thermal Enhancement Of Corundum Together With Other Minerals In An Environment That Allows Inducing Of Beryllium And Other Elements Into Corundum
T Treatments

For a full report on beryllium-diffused sapphire in the marketplace, see the March/April 2003 issue of Colored Stone.

Posted: February 21, 2003

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