The diffusion treatment of ruby and sapphire is one of the most important issues facing the gem and jewelry industry today.  To help those who want to learn more about this complex topic, we have compiled the following summary of GIA publications on this subject, dating back to 1981. This includes articles from Gems & Gemology (GNI = Gem News International section, GTLN = Gem Trade Lab Notes), the GIA Insider, and the Newsroom section of the GIA website. All of the press releases and GIA Insider entries can be accessed through the GIA website.  Feature articles and Gem News/Lab Notes items published in Gems & Gemology can be obtained by ordering online or purchasing photocopies of the information in question from Circulation Coordinator Debbie Ortiz at dortiz@gia.edu.

The bibliography is divided into two portions: Be diffusion and non-Be diffusion. Entries are listed in alphabetical order according to the last name of the first contributor or the first word of the title if no contributor is indicated.

Beryllium diffusion

Emmett J.L., Scarratt K., McClure S.F., Moses T., Douthit T.R., Hughes R., Novak S., Shigley J.E., Wang W., Bordelon O., Kane R.E. (2003) Beryllium diffusion of ruby and sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 84–135.

GIA announces updated wording on identification reports for the new corundum treatment process (2002) GIA press release, May 29. Available online at http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/608/2761/news_release_details.cfm.

GIA issues report of preliminary testing on a new corundum treatment from Thailand (2002) GIA press release, January 31. Available online at http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/608/122/news_release_details.cfm.

McClure S., Moses T., Koivula J.I., Wang W. (2002) A new corundum treatment from Thailand. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 3, January 28, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/21/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#2.

McClure S., Moses T., Wang W., Koivula J.I. (2002) An update on the orange to orangy pink treated natural sapphires. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 9, April 19, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1042/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#3.

McClure S.F. (2002) Bulk diffusion—treated sapphire with synthetic overgrowth. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 22, September 27, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1362/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#3.

McClure S.F. (2002) GNI: Bulk diffusion-treated sapphire with synthetic overgrowth. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 255–256.

McClure S.F. (2002) Swarovski scientists identify possible source of beryllium in new treated sapphires. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 10, May 3, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1046/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#3.

McClure S.F., Moses T., Wang W., Hall M., Koivula J.I. (2002) GNI: A new corundum treatment from Thailand. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 86–90.

Moses T. (2002) GTLN: Sapphire, bulk or lattice diffusion treated. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 254–255.

Moses T., Wang W., McClure S., Hall M., Koivula J.I. (2002) GIA researchers uncover important data on new treated corundum. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 5, February 15, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/162/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#3.

Moses T.M., Hall M., Wang W. (2002) GTLN: More bulk diffusion—rubies and orange sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 342–343.

Shor R. (2003) GNI: AGTA corundum panel. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 58–59.

Unified AGTA/GIA/Gübelin/SSEF disclosure policy (2002) GIA press release, February 26. Available online at http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/608/375/news_release_details.cfm.

Update on the new corundum bulk diffusion treatment (2002) GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 24, November 1, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1382/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#4.

Update on the new corundum bulk diffusion treatment (2002) GIA press release, November 1. Available online at http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/608/6898/news_release_details.cfm.

Wang W., Green B. (2002) An update on treated natural corundum. GIA Insider, Volume 4, Issue 27, December 20, 2002. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/1482/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#2.

Wang W., Green B. (2002) GNI: Update on Be-diffused corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 363–364.

Other diffusion processes

Crowningshield G.R. (1985) GTLN: Surface-induced stars. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 171–172.

Crowningshield G.R. (1992) GTLN: Durability of diffusion-treated sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 28, No. 4, p. 266.

Crowningshield G.R. (1995) GTLN: Sapphire, with diffusion-induced color and star. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 56–57.

Crowningshield G.R. (1995) GTLN: Synthetic ruby with diffusion-induced “fingerprint” inclusions and asterism. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 126.

Fryer C. (1981) GTLN: Induced surface coloration of natural sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 1, p. 46.

Fryer C. (1982) GTLN: Treated synthetic sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 18, No. 2, p. 107.

Fryer C. (1982) GTLN: Sapphire, diffusion colored. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 18, No. 3, p. 173.

Hargett D., Crowningshield G.R. (1990) GTLN: Sapphire, diffusion treated Montana rough. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 224–225.

Hurwit K. (1995) GTLN: Corundum, diffusion treated, Gems & Gemology, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 196–197.

Identifying diffusion-treated red corundum (2000) GIA Insider, Volume 2, Issue 14, July 14, 2000. http://www.gia.edu/newsroom/issue/2798/964/insider_newsletter_details.cfm#3.

Johnson M.L., Koivula J.I. (1997) Gem News: Titanium and chromium diffusion-induced star sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 308–309.

Johnson M.L., Koivula J.I. (1998) Gem News: Diffusion-treated synthetic sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 301–302.

Kammerling R.C., DeGhionno D. (1993) GTLN: Diffusion treatment obscured by mounting, Gems & Gemology, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 283–284.

Kammerling R.C., Koivula J.I., Kane R.E. (1990) Gemstone enhancement and its detection in the 1980s. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 32–49.

Kane R.E., Kammerling R.C., Koivula J.I., Shigley J.E., Fritsch E. (1990) The identification of blue diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 115–133.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C. (1991) Gem News: Distinguishing diffusion treatment from surface coating. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 187–188.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C. (1991) Gem News: More experimentation with blue diffusion-treated sapphires . . . and red stones too. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 187–188.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C. (1991) Gem News: More on diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 27, No. 1, p. 53.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C., Fritsch E. (1992) Gem News: Diffusion-treated sapphire cabochons sold as natural. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 204–205.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C., Fritsch E. (1992) Gem News: Instrument for detecting diffusion treatment. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 28, No. 1, p. 67.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C., Fritsch E. (1992) Gem News: Update on diffusion-treated sapphires. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 62–63.

Koivula J.I., Kammerling R.C., Fritsch E. (1994) Gem News: Update on diffusion treatment. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 55–56.

Mayerson W. (2001) Gem News: Sapphire with diffusion-induced stars. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 324–325.

McClure S.F. (2002) GNI: Cobalt-“diffused” sapphire. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 167–168.

McClure S.F., Kammerling R.C., Fritsch E. (1993) Update on diffusion-treated corundum: Red and other colors. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 16–28.

McClure S.F., Smith C.P. (2000) Gemstone enhancement and detection in the 1990s. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 336–359.

Moses T. (2002) GTLN: Synthetic sapphire treated by “traditional” bulk diffusion with transitional elements. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 256–257.

Muhlmeister S., Fritsch E., Shigley J.E., Devouard B., Laurs B.M. (1998) Separating natural and synthetic rubies on the basis of trace element chemistry. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 80–101.

Nassau K. (1981) Heat treating ruby and sapphire: technical aspects. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 121–131.

Smith C.P. (2002) “Diffusion ruby” proves to be synthetic ruby overgrowth on natural corundum. Gems & Gemology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 240–248.