A method and apparatus for press sealing a tubular quartz arc tube body section about a ribbon-type metallic seal. The method includes applying different intensities of heat to the quartz arc tube body section to be pressed in such a manner that four portions of the quartz arc tube body section which are located within diametrically opposed quadrant sections are heated to a higher softened-state temperature than those portions of the heated quartz arc tube body which are positioned intermediate the higher-heated quartz arc tube body portions, with the higher-heated quartz arc tube body portions collapsing somewhat due to the surface tension of the softened quartz. Utilizing this method results in an improved press seal.