Are Irradiated Diamonds Safe To Wear? Your Ultimate Guide

What comes to mind when you hear the word irradiation? Commonly held misconceptions about diamond irradiation treatment and irradiated diamonds are that they are dangerous or unsafe.

But are irradiated diamonds safe to wear? Is wearing them harmful to your health? Do they even pose a risk? The short and simple answer is that irradiated diamonds and gemstones are safe to wear.

It is important to mention here that irradiation is widely used in the jewelry industry. For many years, diamonds have been enhanced through the use of radiation and heat. Blue, green and even black irradiated diamonds have been widely available on the market for decades.

A properly irradiated gemstone is treated to achieve its best potential color, and is stable in a non-radioactive state. We’ve explored more about irradiated diamonds below, including how they’re created and why they’re a popular choice for those seeking fancy colored diamonds and gems.

The irradiation process was first developed by Sir William Crookes, a gem connoisseur as well as a chemist and physicist. Sir Crookes was the first to find out what radiation can do to the color of a diamond.

Radium salts were used in his experiments in 1904. Diamonds covered with radium salt gradually turned a dark green, the color was visible as blotchy patches that did not penetrate the surface.

Radium treatment also rendered the diamond highly radioactive, thus making it unwearable. In 1914, Crookes donated an octahedron-shaped diamond that underwent this treatment to the British Museum, where it remains today. Its color and radioactivity remain unchanged.

In 1942, scientists at the University of Michigan put diamonds in a cyclotron and zapped them with heavy radiation to produce vivid green stones. After a brief quarantine period during which residual radioactivity disappeared, the world had its first artificially colored diamonds that were safe to wear.

This was an experiment purely for research purposes - commercial irradiated diamonds and gemstones were not introduced until the 1950s. Since there was no simple test to distinguish hues created in nature from those created in a lab, the market for naturally colored diamonds temporarily crashed.

At this time, irradiated diamonds were dangerous for wealth, not health.

Irradiation is the process of exposing an object to radiation. Artificial irradiation can enhance certain properties of diamonds and gemstones.

The optical properties of a gemstone can be altered with the help of high levels of ionizing radiation. When gemstones are exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation, their crystal lattice can be changed. In some cases, irradiation can alter the color of a gemstone.

Diamond and gemstone irradiation can be done in three ways. Depending on the method, each gemstone will be affected differently.

The methods are:

The most common methods of artificial irradiation today include neutron bombardment and electron bombardment. In these processes, high-energy particles are blasted at diamonds, knocking the carbon atoms out of their place and producing colored diamonds.

Generally, neutron bombardment results in green to black diamonds, whereas electron bombardment produces blue, blue-green, or green diamonds. In addition, the stone may be annealed to change its color, with the heat turning the irradiated stone pink, yellow, orange or brown.

Color diamonds that have been irradiated are beautiful and safe to use, and don't require any special care under normal wear and tear. Over time, the color treatment will not change.

There are two reasons for the popularity of irradiated diamonds. First, irradiation (plus heating afterwards) produces fancy color diamonds that are affordable.

Natural deep-yellow diamonds are very expensive. Natural greens, blues and reds are prohibitive in cost. Even if you have the money to pay the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars per carat to have these colors, it would be a challenge to find them. Second reason for irradiation: rarity. Natural fancy color diamonds are extremely rare.

The irradiation of diamonds has given consumers their first glimpse of diamonds with beautiful kiwi and Bordeaux colors in local jewelry stores. The process of irradiation has also been used to produce gemstones that rival the beauty of black onyx.

With these advancements, consumers can confidently purchase beautifully colored and high-quality diamonds without breaking the bank.

Irradiated diamonds are not usually lab grown diamonds. They're natural diamonds that have characteristics that make them good candidates for treatment. Some diamonds are “naturally” irradiated by being formed in the earth close to a source of natural radiation. Natural green diamonds are an example, and are some of the rarest of all diamonds. This also presents challenges for laboratories to be able to determine if the radiation was artificial or from a natural source.

Irradiated diamonds come in blue, green, canary yellow, or even pink as well as many other fabulous colors. Better yet, wearing and handling irradiated gemstones is generally safe.

Although, as lab-grown diamonds become more accessible and affordable, the world of fancy colored diamonds is changing. The affordable nature of lab-grown diamonds allows enthusiasts to explore the fascinating world of fancy colored diamonds - without breaking the bank. Many of the most appealing colors can be created by adding certain elements to the growth chamber, making irradiation unnecessary.

Regardless of your preference for the icy colorless diamond or fancy color at a lower price, the advent of lab-grown diamonds has enabled you to enjoy the vibrant beauty of colored diamonds, or save money on top-end colorless diamonds, without compromising on quality.

In addition to our expertise in cut quality for the finest natural diamonds, we stock the 'best of the best' lab diamonds with proven light performance. As far as color and clarity are concerned (DEFG color and IF -VS1 clarity), they are at the top of their game. We offer a variety of in-stock diamonds in our Precision Lab Grown Diamonds.

Irradiated diamonds can be certified and graded. Certification and grading of diamonds, including those that have undergone treatment such as irradiation, involve assessing various characteristics of the diamond to determine its quality and value.

Because this process is permanent, the GIA will grade and certify irradiated diamonds and can also laser inscribe the diamond to notify any potential buyer that the diamond has been irradiated. An accurate identification of the diamond is crucial to transparency and for informing potential purchasers.

The irradiation process normally only affects the diamond’s color, so the overall clarity and or imperfections won't change. However, the imperfections may become less apparent than if they were colorless.

Still, when a gemstone is enhanced with the help of irradiation, it needs a final approval by a regulatory agency and compliance with the rules required by the Federal Trade Commission. There are other professional organizations that require disclosure irradiated gemstones such as American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), and the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICGA).

As a rule of thumb, the first goal of diamond grading in a lab is to determine whether a diamond was treated or synthesized. Without a top-tier laboratory report, you should never purchase a fancy color diamond - or any diamond at all, for that matter.

Irradiated gemstones are safe to wear on a daily basis. Today there are even more sophisticated ways to create fancy color diamonds in the laboratory through High Temperature High Pressure treatment and by Chemical Vapor Deposition diamond synthesis.

In addition to our expertise in diamonds, Whiteflash caters to discerning jewelry enthusiasts interested in all kinds of product - extending to colored gemstones and pearls. Our staff includes GIA gemologists and jewelry professionals with decades of experience and extensive knowledge of diamonds and gemstones. Whiteflash has developed a global network of trading partners that provide access to the best materials in the gem and jewelry industries, and we start by putting our customers at the forefront of everything we do.

Our reputation for quality and reliability makes Whiteflash the go-to source for our in-house diamonds as well as special gems, pearls, and fancy colored diamonds. Our experts are available to assist you with choosing the right diamond, selecting the perfect settings and exploring your precious metal options.

Whether you're looking for a fabulous engagement ring, a stunning pendant, or a sparkling piece of jewelry to adorn yourself or a loved one, our exquisite natural and lab-grown diamonds offer a world of possibilities.

Feel free to get in touch with us, and we will help you find something perfect for your style and vision! Welcome to our world - the world of brilliant diamonds!