The Secret Life of Thai Rubies: VC2

VC2 producer Toby Thierman follows the path of gems, from a trader on Thailand's border with Burma, to a gem cutter, a heater, and a street gem auction. We see the complex and sometimes treacherous steps gems take before they wind up on our fingers.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• VC2
• producer
• Toby
• Thierman
• gems
• Thailand
• Burma

[azulo65]

I've never understood why people spend so much on so little

[bl0000000000]

Can someone explain to me why super heating is bad or good for gems?

[zodiusracemosis]

@bl0000000000 I'm a gemologist through GIA and super heating isnt BAD for gems, but it lessens value. It will release concentrated deposits of the element that cause color, like in ruby the more chromium the more color, and it can be foggy out of the ground, then when heated and the element is released, it can turn out blood red and perfectly clear. It is MUCH rarer to have a gemstone thats perfect without heat. 99% of rubies and sapphires even at fancy places like tiffanys, are heated.

[adakteen2]

@bl0000000000 it has to do with the kinetics of the atoms within the gem. For example, diamond spontaneously converts to graphite, but the reaction is so slow, it's negligible. Adding heat speeds up the reaction, thus giving you a "dead diamond:.

Hope this helps.

[sarkar009]

people who dont understand the value of a perfect ruby...are those ppl who dont own one..

[elitzatz]

very nice

[promac1212]

great vid

[Ballpythondude420]

people value the natural brightness

[bl0000000000]

No I mean why is it bad if you make it brighter?

[unholypenguin4]

why am i having troubles loading the videos

[DaftPunkLVR]

Interesting video.