Treated vs. Untreated Gemstones – What You Deserve to Know
Not every gemstone comes out of the Earth looking perfect.
Some are clouded, dull, or pale. Some carry visible fractures or uneven color.
That’s where treatments come in — human efforts to improve what nature began.
But not all treatments are the same. Some are traditional and accepted. Others are controversial — even deceptive.
If you’re buying a gemstone, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Treated Gemstone?
A treated gemstone is one that has undergone a man-made process to enhance its appearance, clarity, or color.
The gem is still natural in origin — but it’s been “helped along the way.”
The most common treatments include:
Heat Treatment
- Used to intensify color and reduce visible inclusions
- Common in sapphires, rubies, zircon, topaz
-
Stable and permanent
✔️ Widely accepted in the gem trade
Oiling / Fracture Filling
- Used to make surface fractures less visible
- Most often applied to emeralds using cedar oil or synthetic resins
- May fade over time or require re-oiling
✔️ Traditional, but should always be disclosed
Diffusion, Dyeing, Coating, Irradiation
- Techniques to artificially create or deepen color
- Often used in cheaper stones or simulants
- These can affect durability or mislead buyers
✘ Less desirable, especially when not disclosed
At Sosna Gems, we never hide treatments — and we never sell dyed or coated stones.
What Is an Untreated Gemstone?
An untreated gemstone is exactly what it sounds like:
- Mined from the Earth
-
Cut and polished, but not heat-treated, oiled, dyed, filled, or altered
- Often rarer — and more valuable, especially in top color or clarity
Collectors, investors, and gem lovers often seek untreated stones for their:
- Natural purity
- Historical integrity
- Higher long-term value
Some customers ask: “Can you prove it’s untreated?”
Yes — through independent certification and full gemological disclosure.
How Treatments Affect Value
Not all treatments are equal — and not all should reduce value.
But transparency is everything.
| Treatment Type | Effect on Value | Acceptability |
|---|---|---|
| Heat (Sapphire, Ruby) | Minor impact (if disclosed) | Generally accepted |
| Oiling (Emerald) | Some value reduction | Traditional, accepted |
| Dyeing / Coating | Strongly reduces value | Not accepted |
|
Untreated (Top Quality) |
Premium value |
Rare and collectible |
Sosna Gems Approach: Full Transparency
We believe that beauty is best when it’s honest.
Here’s how we handle treatment disclosure:
- Every product description includes treatment status
- Precious stones (like ruby, sapphire, emerald) include GIA, IGI or equivalent certification if untreated or significantly valuable
- Affordable stones may include our in-house clarity & treatment grading
- We never enhance or alter photographs to hide features
Our promise: if a stone is treated, we tell you how, why, and to what extent.
Final Thought
Treatments aren’t bad — but secrets are.
We believe you deserve the full story behind every gemstone. That’s why we work with nature, not against it — and why our gems are chosen not just for beauty, but for integrity.
Browse Our Certified Natural Gemstones
Explore our collection of natural stones — treated where tradition allows, untreated where rarity speaks for itself.
View certified gems →
