A frequently asked question by a customer to every jewellers they have met “Are these Gems real”?

Every customer prefers things that are natural, responsibly sourced, trusted, and valued in any materialist things that they desire to own. Especially in the jewellery industry where gemstones are often studded,this spontaneous question arises. People love all gems stones, but they are more concerned when it comes over to gems that have been used from our ancient civilization and continue even today, because they believe that certain gems have inherent value besides the magical powers to guild them.Therefore they wish to have things that are naturally derived,from the mines to customer, this has assumed such a huge significance that demand is more that supply or availability.

This shortage of natural material, made man invent various techniques to either create or enhance lower quality gem material on their color, luster, clarity or transparency to fulfill the void in the market.

While certain treatments or process have been permanent or temporary by nature on the gems to enhance their appearance has been acceptable by the gem industry while some are not, and it is always ethical to disclose all such treatment if so, during every transaction that’s being done.

The jewellery industry has been enhancing gems using various forces of nature like heating over fire, to bring out the beautiful colors, to the forefront that has been hidden inside the gem. Industries used equipment’s to irradiate gems to produce colors like in a diamond that nature only produced earlier. Enhancements are making gems appear more beautiful than the natural ones this shall go on as long as people wear them.

How do I know if my gem is treated?

We would like to impart a little knowledge on the few various treatments that gems may have undergone and reported on a gem certificate in the comments.

1. Heat treatment: A commercially accepted kind of treatment, and one of the oldest forms to enhance the color and clarity using either low temperature of high temperature to stabilize the effect of change on color.
2. Surface modifications: Application of certain resins, wax,dyes, varnish or paints, foil backing to improve its appearance or provide color.
3. Bleaching: Certain gems like pearls are bleached to either remove its color or lighten it using chemicals.
4. Assembled gemstone: Construction of a gem with layers of different natural gems or materials bonded together using cement or fused together to form a single assembled stone. This gem are further classified based on the layers attached if it is atwo layered material it is known as a doublets and when it is three-layer material is known as triplet.
5. Glass filling: Fractures found on certain gems like rubies and sapphires are filled with high lead glass to enhance its transparency, it is a less durable treatment, and such gems need to be handled with care.
6. High pressure- high temperature: A combined effect of high temperature and high pressure on certain gems like diamonds can alter its color as well it’s clarity.
7. Oiling/Resin: Filling of surface breaking-fissures usually found more on Emerald with colorless oil, wax, or resin to improves its color, luster and appearance.

Let me tell a little about Gem Emerald treatment that can be handled easily at home that may have surface visible fissures developed over time due to usage.

Do all Emeralds need treatment?

A simple answer is No, not all emeralds are treated butmajority of them do receive treatment such as oiling which is an acceptable common practice.

How should one do an oil treatment at home? And Why?

This oiling treatment bring out the apparent clarity of the gem by concealing its otherwise visible surface breaking -fissures.

Before you treat your gem ensure the following methods are adopted.

1. Firstly, keep yourself away from the kitchen sink if you happen to drop it may not be possible to retrieve it back.
2. Never put your emeralds into an ultrasonic cleaner for cleaning.
3. Take a bowl with warm water, a little mild detergent, and a soft brush.
4. Gently brush away all the dust and dirt from the surface of the gem.
5. Pat it dry with a soft tissue paper.
6. Apply Emerald oil available with C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers on the surface of the gem and let it stand for about 24 hours before use.

With re-oiling you will perceive a lustrous good-looking gem by bringing back life into them. Most Gemstones are heated / treated / oiled in some way at different stages of mining / cutting / polishing / finishing. Hence such “Enhancements” are to be assumed in most natural gemstones. Gemstones not treated / heated will be provided with an independent certification of authenticate absence of enhancement across all showroom of C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers.