Treated Sapphire Inclusions

First Published: 7 September 2026

Treated Sapphire Inclusions

Explore treated sapphire inclusions in Hyperion, the Lotus Gemology inclusion database. Hyperion contains photomicrographs of inclusions and internal features in natural sapphires that have undergone treatment, documented with information on geographic origin, treatment, lighting conditions, field of view, photographer and published references.

In this beryllium-diffused green sapphire, the high-temperature heating has healed a former fissure and the pockets of residue show clear rounding and necking down. Some also show shrinkage bubbles as the glassy material cooled and thus occupied less space, creating the bubble in the cavity. Angular growth zoning can be seen in the background.
In this sapphire originating from a basalt-related source, color concentrated in the cloudy zones suggests that it has been subjected to heat treatment. Also visible are zoned clouds of fine exsolved particles.
Once exposed to longwave ultraviolet light from a torch, the filling in this fissure becomes evident, displaying an orange glow.
When observed with diffuse reflected illumination from a fiber optic light guide, the surface of this sapphire shows a glass filled fissure of lower luster.
This sapphire was treated with heat and pressure.
When this heat and pressure treated sapphire was viewed under crossed polars, several small strain patterns became visible.
A chalky, angular appearance is apparent when this sapphire is viewed in shortwave UV illumination.
This heat-treated blue sapphire from Madagascar showed unusual features just below the surface. Note the series of bubbly fingerprints and at the center a cavity featuring two frozen bubbles.
The fuzzy appearance of this fingerprint suggests that its host sapphire has been subject to heat treatment.
The large, reflective fissure around this crystal, likely mica, provides evidence that this sapphire has been heated. Mica crystals are particularly sensitive to heat.
The small fissures around these zircon crystals provide evidence that the sapphire they are suspended in has been subject to heat treatment.
The frosty white surface and reflective fissure around this crystal, likely mica, suggest that this sapphire was heated.

Treatment can alter existing inclusions and produce new microscopic features in sapphire. These may include changes to mineral inclusions, altered rutile silk, tension fractures, healed fissures, residues and other features associated with heating, diffusion, fissure filling and other treatment processes.

Treated Sapphire Inclusion Photomicrographs

The Hyperion treated sapphire gallery includes microscopic features documented in natural sapphires subjected to treatment. Each entry identifies the recorded treatment and is accompanied by descriptive information and, where available, references to the gemological literature.

What Inclusions Can Reveal About Sapphire Treatment

Microscopic examination is an important part of detecting treatment in sapphire. The appearance and alteration of inclusions, fractures and growth features can provide evidence of treatment and, in some cases, information about the processes to which a sapphire has been subjected.

Hyperion combines inclusion photomicrography with supporting gemological information so that treatment-related features can be compared with documented examples in natural sapphire.

About Hyperion

Hyperion is the Lotus Gemology searchable inclusion database. It allows users to browse gemstone inclusions by gem type, geographic origin, treatment and keyword.

Search the Complete Hyperion Database