Rubies and Their Hypnotic Treatments
The treatment of precious gemstones, including rubies,
significantly affects their overall value in addition to the 4 C's and origins.
Treatment involves various cutting and enhancement processes that are applied
to improve the gemstone's luster and enhance its natural state. Different
gemstones undergo specific treatment processes based on their flaws and
requirements. When it comes to rubies, there are three main types of treatments
available that aim to reduce inclusions, fractures, and enhance the gem's
color. Let's explore these treatments further.
- Heat
Treatment: Heat treatment is a widely used method for enhancing rubies.
During this process, rubies are heated between 800°C to 2,000°C for
varying durations, ranging from several minutes to weeks. The primary
purpose of heat treatment is to enhance the color saturation of the ruby.
This treatment is commonly applied to the brilliant red gem known as Manik
Stone. It is a stable and permanent process that eliminates blue or brown
tints, corrects color zoning, reduces inclusions, heals fractures, and
lightens dark stones.
- Flux
Heat Treatment: Flux heat treatment involves adding a flux, such as borax,
during the regular heating process to lower the required temperature for
desired results. Flux heat treatment is commonly applied to rubies to
enhance their gem clarity by effectively healing fractures, even when
using lower heat temperatures. This treatment also enhances the stone's
stability by sealing cracks with the help of flux.
- Composite
or Glass-Filled Treatment: Glass filling is a prevalent treatment for
rubies that have numerous fractures and inclusions. This treatment is
typically combined with heat treatment. It involves melting lead glass,
which has a higher refractive index, and filling the breaches, cracks,
fractures, and inclusions in the ruby. While not stable or permanent, this
treatment significantly improves the clarity of lower-quality crystals. It
is commonly performed on rough pieces that would otherwise be unsuitable
for sale. It's important to note that this treatment makes the rubies no
longer considered purely natural, and sellers should disclose the type and
treatment of the ruby to buyers. However, due to their affordability, some
people still choose to purchase these composite rubies.
- Oil
Treatment: Oiling is another commonly used treatment for rubies. Rubies
are often oiled before the cutting process to facilitate carving, and oil
application is also done after cutting to enhance color concentration and
polish the gem. This treatment is primarily focused on enhancing clarity
by filling and masking fractures.
- Dye
Treatment: Unlike the previous treatments, dye-treated rubies are not
natural rubies but synthetic stones that have been artificially treated.
They are purely colored gems. Dye treatment is not generally recommended,
especially for astrological purposes.
These are some of the widely accepted treatments for rubies.
Global designers and jewellers continually innovate to adapt the latest fashion
trends in ruby stone jewellery. When seeking stunning statement pieces, it is
advisable to choose certified ruby stones. For astrological purposes, it is
always recommended to opt for a genuine and natural ruby gemstone.