Emeralds are precious gemstones that attract people with their radiating beauty, but have you ever heard that emeralds are oil-treated? Do you know what it means for an emerald to be oiled? Does the oiling of your emerald affect its price? Well, all these questions await a clear answer and generate curiosity in emerald lovers about why oil treatment happens with emerald stone.
Here in this blog, we will understand the meaning behind one of the biggest terms used in emerald history and will explore what emerald oiling is, how this oiling treatment affects the price and quality of an emerald, and some related questions.
So, let’s start this by understanding…
Why Oiling Is Exists In Emerald?
Emerald is known for its deep rich green color and other naturally formed inclusions. However, emeralds often have some surface fractures and fissures which are commonly treated or filled with oil substances such as oil, resin, wax, or other materials. Usually, this type of treatment is used to elevate or enhance the clarity of an emerald.
What Exactly Emerald Oiling Is?
Emerald oiling is treatment process commonly used to enhance the visual look of the stone. This process involve the filling of fractures and fissures within the emerald stone through colorless substance such colorless resins or cedarwood oil.
Why Does Emerald Treated With Oil?
Well, the main objective of oil treatment is to enhance the clarity of the emerald stone. Filling the fractures and fissures makes the stone look clearer and more vibrant. Through this the overall beauty of an emerald stone will improve, makes it more appealing to its buyer.
Does Emerald Oil Treatment Have Levels?
Emeralds have a wide range of oil treatments which somehow affects on their quality and prices. Some emerald stone are found with no oil treatment, maintaining their natural appearance, while other contains some level of oil.
Less treated emeralds are more expensive than for maintaining its natural form. With this, few emeralds are treated with oil, maintaining a balance between clarity enhancement and preserving their natural formation.
Commercial-grade emeralds frequently receive significant oil treatments to enhance their appearance, making them more budget-friendly yet still retaining their striking green colors. Consumers should understand these different treatments to make informed decisions when purchasing emeralds, taking into account their preferences and the significance of transparency in the gemstone industry.
How Emerald Oiling Affects Its Price?
Untreated emeralds or emeralds that are without oil treatment hold a unique position in the world of gemstones.
Untreated emeralds are valued more than treated ones because of their purity and rarity. They showcase nature's raw beauty and are highly coveted in the gemstone industry. Collectors and connoisseurs prefer these high-quality, untreated emeralds over more common, treated ones.
Now, let’s discuss our main question…
Do They Really Need To Be Oiled?
The answer is YES!
If we compare it with other gemstones in the beryl family, you may notice that emeralds have more inclusions than others. In addition to this, on most of the surfaces of the stone, microscopic fractures and fissures are found. To enhance the overall brilliance and reduce the flaws, oil-based treatments are used regularly.
During this process, the emerald is often cleaned before being sealed inside a heated hydraulic cylinder with thick cedar oil. The cylinder's heat and pressure combine to melt the oil and allow it to permeate the small crevices on this jewel. Once finished, the stone is cooled until the cedar oil thickens and returns to its sticky consistency.
It should be noted that the heated hydraulic cylinder is only used on emeralds with extremely small fractures. In most other circumstances, oil is poured straight into the cracks, then cleansed and allowed to cool.
Unfortunately, the benefits of the oiling process are not permanent, and the gem may need to be re-oiled every three to four years to keep its sheen.
Final Thoughts:
As we have discussed in this blog, oiling (cedarwood oil) is considered a safe process and has been utilized in the jewelry business for many years. Even the highest quality emeralds have inclusions, which are regarded as an inherent element of the gem's structural integrity. However, oiling does assist to some extent to eliminate faults and enhance the rich green color of this valuable jewel.
