Creating COLORed DIAMONDS with Irradiation

The most common process used for color enhancing a diamond consists of two steps : Irradiation and Annealment. Together they enable a nearly colorless DIAMOND to obtain a beautiful variety of colors.

What it does? –

Natural color in a diamond comes from the presence of trace impurities in the stone or structural irregularities at its atomic level. Irradiation or HPHT promote changes in the stone’s atomic structure in the laboratory – with the same result: the diamond gains color. Irradiation or HPHT doesn’t actually ‘give’ a diamond color, therefore, but rather simply unlocks its color potential.

Irradiation –

Currently the safest way to irradiate diamonds is by using a machine known as a linear accelerator. This fires a pulsed beam of electrons at the diamond, which then disturbs the electrons of the diamond itself, causing them to be knocked loose and ‘captured’ by other atoms. The light absorbing structure of the gem is changed and, as a result, so is their color. This process is known as low energy electron bombardment.

Annealment –

Exposure to electrons gives diamonds a greenish blue or blue color. In order to get the whole multitude of colors, irradiation is followed by heating to an extreme temperature of around 450 C/850 F and upwards. We call this ‘annealment’ as it is done in an oxygen-free environment. This causes the stones’ atomic structure to rearrange yet again, resulting in a range of new colors. Irradiated color diamonds go through the annealment process, which mimics nature, since natural heating in the right environment can alter a diamond’s color as well.

Here at Lotus Colors, we use only low-energy electron methods of irradiation and annealment. More powerful methods using protons and neutrons can work faster, but these types of treatment may result in radioactivity in the diamond, so they’re best avoided. While irradiated color diamonds may raise questions about safety, they are rigorously tested to ensure they pose no health risks.

Colors Manufactured by Lotus Colors using Irradiation -

All our colors are manufactured using Irradiation - Aqua Blue, Sky Blue, Ocean Blue, Royal Blue, Pine Green, Ice Green, Emerald Green, Forest Green, Canary Yellow, Golden Yellow, Baby Pink, Rose Pink, Purple, Orangish Cognac & Reddish Cognac.