Types of Gemstone Enhancements 3. Most gemstone material, both cut stones and often rough, is enhanced. Enhancements increase the available supply of gemstones, thereby increasing their affordability as well. As a gemologist, I assume that most gems are treated, and I encourage my clients to understand this without losing their love for gems and jewelry. Where gem enhancement makes the largest difference is in disclosure.
Buyers have a right to know about and understand gemstone enhancements.
Recently, the jewelry industry has been working with the FTC to tighten the legal guidelines for disclosure of gemstone treatments. Disclosure means that a buyer has the right to know which enhancement processes have been performed on a gemstone. For simplicity's sake, I have compiled a list of the different categories of enhancements and the gemstones commonly treated with this process. Most of these enhancements are commonly accepted within the gemstone trade as routine processes. Unless otherwise stated as a natural, untreated gemstone, the gem materials I have used in my designs, like most gemstones, have been enhanced in some way.