There are a number of techniques to improve a diamond color. These are the so called color enhanced diamonds.
Irradiation & Heat Treatment
Is a procedure by which brown and yellow diamonds are turned into fancy-colored diamonds. The color is usually permanent, but could change if high heat is used during setting repairs.
This method is not recommended for two reasons:
- the risk involved with exposure to irradiated objects
- the risk of color change over time.
The types of irradiation treatment used today include nuclear reactors, gamma ray facilities, and most often linear accelerators.
Fancy color has also been generated by using backings.
Painting the colorless metal behind the diamond, in the setting. This is a rarely used method today as it is easily detectable.
Coating
Diamonds are sometimes coated with a substance that masks yellowish tints. Though it is applied with heat, the coating will eventually rub off with normal wear and cleaning. In the past all sorts of paints were used (even nail polish). Today modern technology has made it possible to apply super thin layers of durable coatings on diamonds. Examined under the microscope at a pavilion side coated diamonds may exhibit irregular or unnatural surface, and the dye may concentrate at some junctions, or may be chipped away.
HPHT
This is another color treatment method used for color enhanced diamonds. The HPHT is considered permanent. At first, the method was used to turn yellowish diamonds into fancy colored but now it is used for the reverse effect: to turn brown diamonds into colorless.
GIA grading reports specify if a diamond was irradiated for color or if it was HPHT annealed. Irradiation or annealing mark the internal structure of a diamond usually by various inclusions and mirror-like cleavages.
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