Jewelry

[Auntie CC]

TODAY'S TANZANITE HAS BEEN HEAT TREATED!! THE STONE WILL FADE OVER THE YEARS. 

CONSIDERING HOW MUCH THEY'RE ASKING NOT A GOOD DEAL

[Janey2]

@Auntie CC  Heat treated gemstones are an industry standard. Very few gemstones are not heat treated. Those that aren't are highly expensive. Generally gemstones do not fade if heat treated.

[MoonieBaby]

Only a very small percentage of gemstones are not treated. It’s true. If you want untreated may I suggest looking into Garnets - they are actually available on a wide array of gorgeous colors. All untreated. In fact they cannot even be lab grown. chrome Diopside is not treated. Also thus far unable to be lab grown. Spinel (black or other colors) are natural. Though spinel in vibrant colors can be lab created. To name a few.

[SilleeMee]

Most all Tanzanite is heat treated. Place your Tanzanite jewelry inside a box so it doesn't get light on it. Don't wear it while under the direct sunlight especially. The color should last a lifetime if you care for it properly.

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), virtually 100% of commercially sold Tanzanite has been heat treated.  It does not alter durability.  QVC's offering is nothing different or unusual. 

[FancyPhillyshopper]

I agree with everyone else that heat treatments are STANDARD and do not affect the durability or the value of a gemstone.

I will say I love the sun, and potentially ANY gemstone can be affected by ongoing intense sun exposure over time, whether heated or not. Many other treatments are even more fragile.

Tanzanites are softer stones--they must be cared for! 

All of this is the  reason I mainly wear diamonds in the sun--they are not only the world's hardest gemstone, but also the most stable. 

Prices are high these day on LOTS of retail jewelry, including the Q.  But if you really love it, go for the splurge!

[wagirl]

I have many heat treated stones I wear all the time in any type of light. But the one stone I will never buy again is Ethiopian opals--have a few rings and they have all turned yellow--no colors or flash at all. And those are kept away from the light. Bummer!!! 

[Kachina624]

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@wagirl wrote:

I have many heat treated stones I wear all the time in any type of light. But the one stone I will never buy again is Ethiopian opals--have a few rings and they have all turned yellow--no colors or flash at all. And those are kept away from the light. Bummer!!! 

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@wagirl. Have you soaked your Ethiopian opals in water?  Somebody posted on the boards that she forgot and left them in a cleanser for 24 hours and the color completely disappeared.

They are not water-based like Australian opals and contact with water should be avoided.  I've got a couple of rings I've had since the stone first became available and they're as beautiful as when I bought them. 

[songbird]

Opals are my birth stone but I have never purchased them.  The only kind I like are the precious Lightlening Ridge variety.  Obvsiously expensive.  They are usually in 18K or platinum.  Not silver.  Opals are not very strong. I usually try to avoid soft stones.  I dont' even have the Tanzanite.  That's soft too.

As for heating.  Yes, it's industry standards.  That doesn't affect the actual value of the stone. My mom had sapphires she purchased way before I was born.  They still look just as good.  One sapphire was going for millions and that was heated. You learn a lot about gemstones just watching Gem Shopping network.  Some are not heated because of the color.  There are some unheated sapphires. For some reason, they seem to be a purple color.  Anyway the price isn't very different from the heated ones.  More important than heating is the origin of the stone.  South American emeralds, Ceylon sapphires, Australian Opals, etc.  The fabled Pariaba, etc.  South America, Africa and south east Asia are where the in demand gems are from.  North Ameica is not very good in having gems though.  They don't demand the high prices. 

[wagirl]

@Kachina624 -- no never  soaked them in any liquid--took the rings off before I wash my hands and put them in my armoire so no light of any kind, exposed them. Just used a soft cloth to clean them--