Heat treatment

Heat treatment refers to a controlled process used to alter the structure of materials, such as metals and gems, to enhance their properties or appearance.

Part of speech
noun
Definition
In the jewelry industry, heat treatment is a critical process applied to both metals and gemstones to improve their qualities or change their colors. For metals, this can involve annealing, quenching, and tempering to increase strength, durability, or malleability. For gemstones, heat treatment is often used to intensify or alter colors, making them more appealing to the market. This process must be carefully controlled to achieve the desired outcome without damaging the material. The ethics of disclosing heat treatments, especially for gemstones, is an important aspect of the jewelry trade, as it affects valuation and consumer trust.

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