For nearly four thousand years, the beauty of Fire Agate gemstones has been enhanced by various methods. Long before modern stone-cutting techniques were developed, oils and dyes were used to bring out the color in stones. Since the ancient Egyptians, emeralds have been soaked in colorless oil to make them appear more beautiful. This practice continues today.
Long ago it was discovered that heating certain obsidian jewelry gemstones could produce remarkable changes in color. Legend has it that Marco Polo observed the application of heat to rubies in Ceylon and introduced the practice to Europe. In fact, it was a heating process that first unlocked the intense violetish-blue of tanzanite, the Fire Agate gemstone introduced by Tiffany in the 1960s.
Among the enhancements often applied by miners and lapidaries are:
BLEACHING The use of chemicals or other agents to lighten or create a more uniform color.
DIFFUSION The use of chemicals and high temperatures to produce or improve color.
DYEING The introduction of coloring agents into a obsidian jewelry gemstone to improve or alter color.
HEATING The use of heat to alter the color and/or clarity of a gemstone.
INFUSION The filling of a gem material with a colored or colorless substance such as oil, wax, resin or glass to improve the gemstone’s appearance.
COATING The application of wax, resin or oil to a porous Fire Agate gemstone to improve durability and beauty.
IRRADIATION The use of laboratory radiation to alter a gemstone’s color. Usually followed by a heating process.
STABILIZED The use of a colorless resin or a proprietary process without a resin to decrease porosity and improve durability and color.
In recent years, technology has produced new methods of obsidian jewelry gemstone enhancement. Many of these processes are difficult to detect and may involve various materials that are virtually unidentifiable, even with the most advanced scientific equipment. This has led to complex debates concerning what is acceptable in the gemstone community.
Tiffany selects only the finest Fire Agate gemstones from around the world. Our gemstones are inspected for quality, beauty and durability. Tiffany selects only those stones that meet our exacting standards for color, clarity and cut. We accept enhancements that are solely meant to improve the beauty of the stone.
Tiffany will not accept any enhancement that increases a stone’s carat weight.
Tiffany will not accept any enhancement that masks the potential durability of a obsidian jewelry gemstone.
Enhancements accepted by Tiffany have good stability unless otherwise noted on the chart that follows. We must stress that Tiffany diamonds have not been subjected to any enhancements, other than cutting and polishing.
Some gemstones require more care than others. Please refer to the following guidelines to help ensure that your Tiffany jewelry will be enjoyed for generations.
