Gemstone Guide: Natural Vs. Synthetic; Treated Vs Untreated
Colour, clarity and overall appearance are the most distinguishing features of every gemstone. Yet, what we know as natural-untreated gemstones stand out to be the most expensive. Here’s why.
The most awesome thing about owning a gemstone is, you’re are probably owning a piece of earth that’s almost ageless. Gemstones are basically pieces of saturated mineral rocks buried in the earth’s crest for aeons. This holds true at least as long as you are not opting for organic gemstones like Amber, Coral, Jet or pearl. Rest of the gemstones like Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, etc. are known as inorganic gemstones excavated from some sort of natural mineral reserves.
Natural gemstones come with the exception that they come straight from earth’s crest, or their organic sources. Synthetic gemstones, on the contrary, lack this exception. In terms of appearance, synthetic gemstones are far better than natural gemstones. They manifest perfection except for the fact that, the perfection is lab-synthesized.
Settling down for Synthetic Gemstones?
Innumerable labs across the world manufacture synthetic gemstones. The production is almost like the production of any industrial product that’s produced in lots. Synthetic gemstones, although perfect, are neither rare, nor unique. They are man-made. They imitate the mineral composition of their natural counterparts and may display almost identical physical properties.
Yet, there’s no fun, since synthetic gemstones are not unique. A natural gemstone is a possession that mother earth has created exclusively for you, as long as you’re owning it.
Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Spinel, Quartz, Amethyst, Opal, Chrysoberyl, etc. are the most common synthetic gemstones. Synthetic versions of gemstones come cheap. The prizes aren’t even comparable to their natural counterpart. They are at the most, identical imitations of gemstones. They are not real gemstones.
Synthetic gemstones can be preferred only when their look is desired, not their feel. Online gemstone trading companies like Carat & Colour preserve the true spirit of owning gemstones by selling just Natural Untreated/Treated Gemstones. You may buy online a piece that comes within a budget of a few hundred rupees, or a piece that’s prized in lakhs. They are all natural.
What’s a Natural Gemstone?
Every gemstone obtained from its inorganic/organic source has to be processed to some extent to make it suitable for possessing as a piece of jewellery. A gemstone never reaches the market until it is cut and polished. Cutting is a crucial skill-taking process. Stones are difficult to cut. Cutting them down into sizes and shapes that are simply mesmerizing takes a refined set of skills and legit techniques. Once cut, they are polished to make their surfaces appealing. Such gemstones barely age.
Whatever happens beyond the stage of polishing a gemstone is counted as its enhancement. Enhancement may be required because natural gemstones with impeccable clarity are very rare. Most natural gemstones are marked with inclusions that disturb their clarity. They may have fractures on their surfaces. With little or more enhancement they can be perfected to be owned as valuable jewellery pieces. The process of enhancement is called treatment.
5 most popular types of gemstone treatments
Heating:Â Gemstones have been heat-treated to alter their colour since thousands of years. The treatment gained popular acclaim in the 20th century. Many gems today are heat treated. They are stable, and the treatment is usually permanent. Ruby and Sapphire are often heat treated for better colour and clarity.
Coating:Â From modifying the colour, luster, brilliance and iridescence to improving surface wear resistance, coating of gems has been known to have several advantages. It is performed by applying a thin film to the surface of a gem. Since recent times, coating materials designed individually for different gemstones are being used. Quartz, Beryl and Topaz are the most commonly coated gemstones.
Dyeing:Â In contrast to coating that stays on the surface, dyeing is characterized by introduction of colouring agent into a gemstone. It is one of the oldest gemstone treatments ever recorded. It is done to give a gemstone a new colour, or to intensify an existing colour, or to improve the colour uniformity.
Oiling:Â Oiling is performed to enhance the surface uniformity of a gemstone. It involves filling surface-reaching cracks or fissures with a colourless oil or resin, or wax or other similar substances. Oiling never uses glass or plastic. It improves the transparency of the Gemstone by diminishing the visibility of fractures. The treatment usually wears of over time.
Fracture Filling:Â In contrast to oiling, fracture filling produces similar effects in treated gemstones by using substances like glass or resin. The filling agents are used to fill surface reaching fractures or fissures in the gemstones. The process is performed to improve durability, colour and transparency of the gemstone.
Pros and Cons of Treated Gemstones.
Owning a gemstone can be a costly affair. It’s costlier with natural untreated gemstones. Because they are naturally perfect. Treated gemstones can be bought within budgets since they are not very rare. They allow budget flexibilities. Especially in case of larger gemstones, untreated pieces are extremely rare and often cost a bomb. On the contrary, larger treated gemstones are easily available.
Treated gemstones have a few downsides like, the treatment performed on them may affect their durability. It may expose the gemstone to wear and tear.
Over a period of several years, treated gemstones may lose their value. They can even lose their value due to invention of newer treatment methods that make their better versions cheaper. Treated gemstones are best owned as personal jewellery, and not as investment articles.
What to prefer?
That depends completely on your taste and budget. Remarkable natural treated gemstones will not cost you as high as their untreated counterparts. Also, smaller natural untreated gemstones often fall within your budgets. You can make your choice depending on the available options. However, the trader must be able to provide you with an appropriate certificate elaborating on the treatments performed on the gemstone you’re buying. As a buyer, you deserve utmost transparency. Few online gemstone stores like Carat & Colour highly regard this spirit of the trade. Every purchase is accompanied by authenticity certificate.
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