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Not all rubies and sapphires respond favorably to heat treatment. Heating ruby-sapphire using any high-temperature furnace under specific conditions certainly will produce some alterations in the stone. Some of these alterations may enhance the overall appearance of the stone, while in other cases the desirable results will not be achieved. In heat treating ruby-sapphire, two important factors should be firmly established:
a) Development of proper heat treatment technology and
b) Development of furnace technology.
Both technologies are taught in our training course in gem treating rubies-sapphires. More information in my books The Heat-Treatment of Ruby & Sapphire, Beryllium-Treated Rubies & Sapphires and Flux-Enhanced Rubies & Sapphires. |
| This "know-how" technology is based on the development of various heat-treatment parameters which alter the chemistry of the impurities in ruby-sapphire resulting in color/clarity improvement. Atmosphere conditions, additives, heating profile, operating temperature and time are the most important parameters that govern every heating process |
Engineering and fabrication of appropriate high-temperature furnace requires skills and understanding the operation of all parts composing the furnace configuration system. The furnace technology enables the execution of the heat-treatment parameters derived from the "know-how" heat-treatment technology. |
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