Finding a natural gemstone is very rare. Most of the stones you get in the market is either treated or manufactured synthetically using heat and chemical treatments. The difference between the natural and treated gemstones is negligible, but it still matters. Why? A naturally occurring stone extracted from the earth’s crust or carved out of caves will have a higher price than the ones that are either treated or manufactured artificially.
Looking for untreated gemstones? Here are few enticing aspects on how gems are treated and how to identify them.
Gems that are often treated to look natural
Heat treatment and coating with oxides are the two common applications involved in gemology. Gemstones that are commonly treated to achieve the impeccable finish and attraction are;
- Ruby
- Sapphire
- Blue Topaz
- Blue Zircon
- Blue Apatite
- Emerald
Emerald stones are treated with resins to fill up the voids and cracks while sapphire is often treated with beryllium in hot conditions. Natural gemstones have fractures and cracks which are often filled with lead glass to look perfectly smooth. Untreated gemstones with smooth finish and unblemished appeal are very rare and often kept for collection display.
Top Untreated gemstones: Unprecedented demand for Imperfection!
As per gemology, natural untreated gemstones have a powerful influence on its healing properties. Unadulterated gemstones are known to produce positive results in life, while the treated ones often fail to deliver as promised. Here are some top gemstones that are in huge demand for their untreated appearance.
It is naturally hard, ranking 8 on the Mohs scale. It is linked to the Fire element and retains its clarity and strength even after passing through refinement process. Spinel occurs in multiple hues and is preferred in its natural untreated version owing to the uncanny resemblance to sapphire and rubies. Popular shades of untreated spinel gemstones are:
- Red spinel
- Orange
- Blue
- Green
- Violet
- Silver
Orange Spessartite is one of the most popular gemstones that require no artificial treatment. It has a brilliant appearance with respectable hardness. It can be cut into smaller shapes and often fitted into rings and amulets. Another gemstone from garnet family that does not require any treatment is the Rhodolite Garnet. This stone exudes a mix of red, purple and burnt brown shade. The luminous gem is used in fashion, jewellery and decors.
If you are looking for variety in untreated gem category, go for tourmaline. It is loved for its slippery show. Blessed with clear cuts and no fractures, large sized stones can be availed at affordable prices. It is one of the best-selling untreated stones in Asian, African and European markets.
Peridot is a blemish-free, unadulterated gemstone that occurs only in one colour-Green. It can’t be modified by any heat or chemical treatment. Best-selling varieties are Burmese, Pakistani and Arizonian Peridot, prized at USD 20 per carat.
Other untreated gems you can try are chrysoberyl, Mali garnet and Precious Opal.
574e0148-0906-44a0-b5cf-11067c15c656|0|.0|27604f05-86ad-47ef-9e05-950bb762570c