Would you rather buy a refurbished iPhone or a brand new one with some cosmetic imperfections? A tough pick, right? Treated emeralds pose a similar dilemma. Emerald treatments can enhance the appearance and value of the stones significantly. But whether a treatment is acceptable is a million dollar question.
Emerald is a remarkable gemstone that’s been fascinating the hearts of royalty and the general public for centuries.
Its deep to medium green and bluish green hues embody elegance and sophistication, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.
However, emeralds are often treated due to the presence of eye-visible inclusions in them.
It’s crucial to understand the nature of these treatments when you’re considering buying a treated emerald.
So, join us as we take a closer look at some accepted emerald enhancements and turn up the deceptive ones.
Oiling: A Widely Accepted Treatment
Emeralds typically contain surface-reaching fractures that affect their clarity and appearance.
Oiling is an industry-accepted emerald treatment that works wonders in keeping these fractures out of sight. This treatment adds to the appeal of the gemstone by enhancing its color.
In this treatment, an emerald is submerged in a colorless oil which permeates the imperfections, making them less apparent to an unaided eye.
Some common oils used for treatments are cedarwood oil, mineral oil and clove oil.
This treatment may need to be repeated over time because the oil in the fractures can fade away.
Oiling is one of the most popular filling treatments. It’s so popular that the vast majority of emeralds in the market are subjected to it.
Tree Resin for Fracture Filling: Generally Accepted
Filling the fractures of an emerald with natural tree resin is another accepted treatment.
Tree resins whose refractive index closely matches that of emerald are great alternatives to oil.
Canadian balsam is a common resin used for fracture filling in emeralds. Tree resins have a slower drying rate compared to oil, making them perfect for treating emeralds.
Natural tree resins have historically been used for enhancing stones. However, synthetic resins such as epoxy resins are replacing the traditional ones for gemstone treatment in the present times.
Laser Drilling Method has Low Acceptability
Laser drilling involves creating a channel in the gem using a narrow beam of light that connects with its fractures.
The created channel is then infused with filling material such as lead glass or plastic which conceals the stone’s imperfections.
While this emerald treatment can enhance the stone’s beauty, it raises concerns regarding its quality and value.
Therefore, it has garnered limited acceptance within the gemstone industry. Laser drilling is a well-known process for diamond clarity enhancement. That’s because diamonds can withstand the heat of a laser beam.
Dyeing is Not a Good Treatment
In this less common treatment for emerald, jewelry sellers apply coloring agents to the stone’s surface to artificially enhance its color.
They use this treatment to intensify the stone’s color or completely change it. However, dyeing doesn’t guarantee permanent coloration.
The imparted color can change or fade over time when exposed to light, heat or chemicals.
Irradiation is Not Much Accepted
Exposing an emerald to controlled ionizing irradiation is another process of altering or changing its color.
This treatment enhances the intensity of the green shades of emerald profoundly, making it more aesthetically appealing.
However, this treatment is generally less accepted because it can produce overly vibrant and sometimes unstable colors.
Key Considerations For Buying Emeralds
There are several factors that you need to consider when buying an emerald. The list includes treatment disclosure, certificate of authenticity and the impact of treatment on the stone.
Let’s take a look at these factors so that you can make an informed buying decision.
Disclosure of Emerald Treatment
Most of the gemstone treatments are impossible to discern with a bare eye. Only experienced gemologists can differentiate treated emeralds from a bunch of untreated ones, that too with special tools.
Therefore, disclosure of any treatments applied to the stone is a critical factor in determining its quality and value.
Certificate of Authenticity
A certificate of authenticity is a document comprising the details of the quality of a gemstone. It features information regarding the stone’s color, cut, clarity, carat weight and treatments.
These valuable insights on the stone’s quality and treatment empower buyers to make an educated choice.
Impact of Treatment
Emerald treatments significantly impact various aspects of the stone including its quality and value.
Some treatments such as fracture filling with oil and resin can bring out the beauty of the stone.
However, others such as laser drilling or heating can compromise the stone’s durability. Of course, all these treatments profoundly influence the price of the stone.
Jeweler’s Reputation
Taking the jeweler’s reputation into consideration is of utmost importance no matter which gemstone jewelry item you are eyeing.
A trustworthy, reputed jewelry seller who is transparent about the treatments their stone has undergone is an excellent choice.
Treated Emerald: A Reliable Pick?
Whether treated emeralds are a safe bet depends on the nature of their treatments and who you’re buying them from.
Standard industry-accepted emerald treatments that reduce the visibility of fissures with oiling or resins are common.
But everything goes in vain if the jeweler charges high prices for such stones under the impression that they’re untreated.
So, all in all, buying enhanced stones boils down to your chosen jewelry seller. In that sense, it’s better to trust only GemsNY.
Our online collection features an extensive selection of both untreated and treated emeralds.
All these stones come with certificates of authenticity from reputed gem laboratories such as GIA and IGI. Further, we clearly provide the information about the treatments, helping customers make a confident purchase.
Discover your dream emerald while experiencing the value of transparency in our excellent selection.
