|
 |
March/April 2003 |
|
|
Wall Street Journal
Reports on Beryllium-Diffused Sapphire
The April 17 edition of the Wall Street Journal featured a story on the recent beryllium diffusion controversy; the article was also picked up by the Asian Wall Street Journal. The article, written by staff reporter Karen Mazurkewich, claims the treatment controversy is "a crisis of confidence in the gem business," a statement that may take this heated debate to a new level of consumer awareness. However, unlike the November 2001 article the WSJ published on a possible link between tanzanite and al Qaeda terrorists, this article quoted industry sources about the issue and the collective response to it. The article explains the history of the sapphire controversy, tracing its steps from the flood of pink-orange "padparadschas" on the Thai gem market in late 2001 to the recent findings that beryllium was used in the process of coloring these stones. It describes how this particular treatment compares to other enhancement methods by saying: "It's acceptable industry practice to heat imperfect gems to enhance their shade. But in this case, U.S. scientists charged that the ‘padparadschas' had been altered with coloring agents — breaking no law but violating the ethics of the trade if the treated gems aren't identified as such to buyers. Immediately, the value of those stones plummeted, and gem wholesalers lost more than $30 million." Several industry representatives are quoted in the article, one commenting on how gem treatments in general have gotten out of hand and taken the "romance . . . out of the stone." Several also admitted that Thai heaters were — and that many still are — reluctant to disclose the beryllium treatment, saying that they often attempt to hide treatments for as long as they can get away with it. Link
to original article on the Wall
Street Journal Web site. (Available to WSJ online
subscribers only.) Posted: April 18, 2003 |
| Subscribe to Colored Stone Today and Save! |
||
|
|
 |
One
year (6 issues) Only $29.95 |
| Industry buyers and decision-makers all over the world rely on Colored Stone's extensive trade coverage for the latest information in the gem field. Colored Stone delivers up-to-the minute news on the gemstone trade, no matter where on the globe it's happening. PLUS receive the Tucson Show Guide FREE! A must-have 500+ page annual guide incides all major trade show locations, exhibitor lists, and so much more. Also include is the largest directory of supplies and products that you'll want to refer to all year long. Don't go to the show without it. (TSG mails at the end of December). Start a new subscription or give a gift at the same great price! |
||
 |
 |
|
|
e-mail the editors of Colored Stone | About Colored Stone | Sign up for our e-newsletter |
This site and all of its contents are
copyright Colored Stone and Interweave unless otherwise noted. |
