Emerald treatment experts?

[pregcurious]

I had been looking for an emerald for 2 years, as my last HG stone, and I never found one in my price range with the color, clarity and size I desired. I even said I was done with CS, which clearly was a delusional because I was still actively looking for an emerald.

Well, I bought an emerald and would your like help on how to apply the information in the AGL GemBrief. I will preface this by saying I am okay with clarity enhancements with stable polymers in emeralds, and I never expected to buy an untreated emerald.

The GemBrief says:
Standard Enhancement: Clarity
Additional Enhancements: In-filling
Comments:
-Emeralds are commonly clarity enhanced to reduce the visibility of fissures. Stability: Variable
-In-filling relates to the filling of broad fissures and cavities with an introduced polymer Stability: Good.

I don't understand how acceptable in-filling is, as described here, and how much this should effect cost. Do all clarity enhanced stones also state that they have in-filling? I am guessing that in-filling is a more extensive treatment than clarity enhancement. All my other stones are completely untreated (sapphire, jadeite, spinel), so I don't know how I feel about this.

I think the price is competitive for the size and excellent color. I don't know if the price is reasonable based on the amount of in-filling. I will refrain from posting more specifics (e.g. who it is from) because I don't want that to affect people's opinions about the in-filling.

I will call AGL on Monday, but I also wanted opinions from PS members who are familiar with emerald. Thank you!

 

[minousbijoux]

To answer your question, no, all clarity enhanced emeralds do not state that they have in-filling. As level of treatment goes, additional treatment by infill clarity enhancement is considered more invasive. I believe when it comes to emeralds, those considered having moderate treatment (which infill enhancement would be) would be priced considerably lower than those that have minor treatment (oiling) only.

I believe GIA has a good description of it - AGL might as well. Let me go see if I can find it...

 

[minousbijoux]

I know the designations differ depending upon the lab. Faint, Minor, Moderate and Significant are ones I've often seen (though as you can see from the article, GIA does not use "faint"). Anyway, I can't find the specific chart I'm looking for, but here is an article that should help you. I'm having a hard time successfully navigating the AGL website for some reason.

http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-1999-classifying-emerald-clarity-mcclure

 

[lilmosun]

I got a AGL Prestige Report for my emerald because I wanted to understand the degree to which mine was enhanced which I understand is what can make a difference in a Emeralds value.

The Enhancement section reads:

First Column
Standard: Clarity
Degree: Minor
Type: Modern
Stability Index: Very Good to Good
Second Column
Additional: None
Degree: N/A
Type: N/A
Stability Index: N/A

Because mine says "None" after "Additional", my guess is that they are calling out In-Filling as an additional enhancement because it goes beyond standard clarity enhancement and is the filling of broad fissures and cavities (as stated in the comments). But best to call AGL.

As an FYI ...I was at first disappointed when they called me saying the treatment was "modern" (not oil). But they assured me that it was just as good in their eyes and the important thing was that it was "Minor" and the enhancement was stable. (I didn't want to upgrade the report to find out what the type of modern enhancement used).

I said I would never buy an emerald --- too fragile and expensive...but couldn't resist either. Welcome to the club.

 

[T L]

I had been looking for an emerald for 2 years, as my last HG stone, and I never found one in my price range with the color, clarity and size I desired. I even said I was done with CS, which clearly was a delusional because I was still actively looking for an emerald.

Well, I bought an emerald and would your like help on how to apply the information in the AGL GemBrief. I will preface this by saying I am okay with clarity enhancements with stable polymers in emeralds, and I never expected to buy an untreated emerald.

The GemBrief says:
Standard Enhancement: Clarity
Additional Enhancements: In-filling
Comments:
-Emeralds are commonly clarity enhanced to reduce the visibility of fissures. Stability: Variable
-In-filling relates to the filling of broad fissures and cavities with an introduced polymer Stability: Good.

I don't understand how acceptable in-filling is, as described here, and how much this should effect cost. Do all clarity enhanced stones also state that they have in-filling? I am guessing that in-filling is a more extensive treatment than clarity enhancement. All my other stones are completely untreated (sapphire, jadeite, spinel), so I don't know how I feel about this.

I think the price is competitive for the size and excellent color. I don't know if the price is reasonable based on the amount of in-filling. I will refrain from posting more specifics (e.g. who it is from) because I don't want that to affect people's opinions about the in-filling.

I will call AGL on Monday, but I also wanted opinions from PS members who are familiar with emerald. Thank you!

If the emerald was pricey, I would really want to know the degree of treatment as well, from "none, faint, minor, moderate, strong." As for in-filling, not really sure what that means on an AGL report. I would also want to know what the enhancement was. You may need to upgrade to a prestige report if you need to find out more.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, TL, limosun, and Minou. It was less than $2000, but that is still a pricey stone for me. At the same time, a stone like this is listed for ~$3000 and it is only oiled, which probably means it has less fissures?
http://www.africagems.com/emerald-emerald-g2k-855175.html

I find shopping for emeralds to be more confusing than other stones because of the treatments. I think I prefer the modern treatments with good stability, over traditional treatments. I really appreciate that it came with an AGL GemBrief because most emeralds I have seen online do not and I will not buy them for this reason.

If it were only clarity enhanced, and not in-filled, I would definitely keep the stone. I will call AGL on Monday.

 

[pregcurious]

I said I would never buy an emerald --- too fragile and expensive...but couldn't resist either. Welcome to the club.

Oh, you understand completely how I feel about emeralds. I have been so "responsible" with all my other gemstone purchases, keeping mainly to untreated sapphire, chyro, and spinel. I have softer stones like moonstone and opals, but they were not expensive.

I'm already thinking of how to design the ring to protect the emerald, and to make the setting so another stone can be swapped in should the emerald break. Why? I am mesmerized...the color is excellent, and it has that glow.

This might be the right stone for me, and this is why: Emeralds are fragile, so I feel like I am doomed with one no matter what. I would only wear this on occasion. If I were to try to buy an emerald of this size and color with no treatments, it would not be affordable.

Do I sound illogical? Am I making a bad decision if I keep it? It is so pretty.

I'm thinking of going to an appraiser this week, but that alone is expensive.

 

[T L]

I said I would never buy an emerald --- too fragile and expensive...but couldn't resist either. Welcome to the club.

Oh, you understand completely how I feel about emeralds. I have been so "responsible" with all my other gemstone purchases, keeping mainly to untreated sapphire, chyro, and spinel. I have softer stones like moonstone and opals, but they were not expensive.

I'm already thinking of how to design the ring to protect the emerald, and to make the setting so another stone can be swapped in should the emerald break. Why? I am mesmerized...the color is excellent, and it has that glow.

This might be the right stone for me, and this is why: Emeralds are fragile, so I feel like I am doomed with one no matter what. I would only wear this on occasion. If I were to try to buy an emerald of this size and color with no treatments, it would not be affordable.

Do I sound illogical? Am I making a bad decision if I keep it? It is so pretty.

I'm thinking of going to an appraiser this week, but that alone is expensive.

Well if you do decide to keep it, make sure to tell your jeweler to NEVER steam it or put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. You would be surprised how many stupid jewelers there are out there that do this. In fact never ever do this to any clarity enhanced gems. As for an appraiser, they can vary a lot. Make sure it's someone highly reputable with colored gems and will give a conservative value.

 

[minousbijoux]

I said I would never buy an emerald --- too fragile and expensive...but couldn't resist either. Welcome to the club.

Oh, you understand completely how I feel about emeralds. I have been so "responsible" with all my other gemstone purchases, keeping mainly to untreated sapphire, chyro, and spinel. I have softer stones like moonstone and opals, but they were not expensive.

I'm already thinking of how to design the ring to protect the emerald, and to make the setting so another stone can be swapped in should the emerald break. Why? I am mesmerized...the color is excellent, and it has that glow.

This might be the right stone for me, and this is why: Emeralds are fragile, so I feel like I am doomed with one no matter what. I would only wear this on occasion. If I were to try to buy an emerald of this size and color with no treatments, it would not be affordable.

Do I sound illogical? Am I making a bad decision if I keep it? It is so pretty.

I'm thinking of going to an appraiser this week, but that alone is expensive.

You actually sound like you're in love , which is a good reason to purchase the emerald. After all, how often do we feel this way about a stone, really?

 

[lilmosun]

Not illogical to me at all I love my emerald and have no regrets despite it being one of the most expensive CS rings I own.

My understanding is that oiled versus modern is just the type of treatment - not related to the degree of treatment/fissures.

Whether this one is a good purchase from a price perspective depends on what AGL says, the size, color (obviously you love it which is most important). Given your discriminating taste, I bet its gorgeous. Fingers crossed that the call to AGL goes well! (If not, don't give up the search).

The GIA has a report explaining how clarity enhancement correlates to value (its just one component) and how fissures can also correlate to durability - http://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/winter-1999-classifying-emerald-clarity-mcclure (download the pdf..pp 183-184).

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks for the GIA article.

Here is the AGL equivalent:
http://www.americangemsociety.org/emerald-clarity-enhancement

 

[Acinom]

Hi pregcurious!
I cannot help you with your question since I am not an emerald expert. But I love love love emeralds and you seem to be thrilled about it. Looking forward admiring your stone.

 

[pregcurious]

Thanks, Minous, limosun, TL, and Acinom. I was in a hurry before and did not have a chance to thank you by name. Your information was really helpful. I am reading the GIA article now.

I followed the instructions in the AGL article, using my UV light (with my UV-protective glasses), and it worked! I took a picture of the in-filled fissures (blue lines) for you to see, using my 10X loupe and my iPhone. I then cropped and blew up a portion of the picture that has the most extensive in-fill.

Now that I see the fissures that are filled, I can see where they are on the stone, and how many. This makes me realize that the location of the fissures, not only the extent, would be important. The fissures that I see would not result in the stone falling apart if the fill were to become unstable, and the report says the stability is good. (Based on the blue reaction to UV light, it is probably some Excel-like polymer, which is consistent with the vendor's information.)

 

[pregcurious]

Here are some important points of the GIA article:
-p177: "In fact, at the First World Emerald Congress, which two of the authors (SFM and TMM) attended, the consensus among dealers and producers from around the world was that determining the relative amount of filler in an enhanced emerald was a more important issue than identifying the filler itself (Johnson and Koivula, 199."
-p178: "500 fashioned samples studied are representative of the full range of emerald qualities offered in the gem and jewelry market"
-p179: "the [GIA] emerald system is concerned only with filled surface-reaching features. That is, the categories in the emerald system represent a visual assessment of the size, extent, number, and location of surface-reaching features (and the amount of filling they contain) relative to: (1) the size of the emerald, and (2) the approximate appearance of the emerald in the face-up position if it were in an unfilled condition."
-p179: "Indeed, some fillers are so successful that the fissures can be very difficult to locate (again, see figure 2)."
-p179: "the presence of filled fissures that would fit into the VVS2 through VS2 range in the diamond clarity grading system (i.e., with regard to the size and extent of the filled fissures relative to the size of the stone and their position in it) was considered minor enhancement (figure 3); emeralds with filled fissures corresponding to the SI1– SI 2 range were moderately enhanced (figure 4); and those that would fall in I1 and below were significantly enhanced (figure 5)."

 

[lilmosun]

Laughing and amazed at how you managed that picture.

I guess the GIA statement makes sense as my understanding is that normal clarity enhancement only reaches those inclusions that reach the surface. On my emerald, I can still see some small internal inclusions when I look through a loupe or when holding it up with the light behind it if I really look for them. I "think" to what degree those exist determine the emerald's clarity rating (but what do I know)

Very interested to see what AGL says and hope we get to see it once you decide. It sounds beautiful!

 

[pregcurious]

I was a little surprised that I was able to see the polymer, and that I was able to get a picture at a resolution that I could post here.

I've learned a lot from this purchase. If I ever go to another gem show, I am bringing my loupe, UV-light, and UV glasses with me. I saw a beautifully colored emerald when I was at Intergem, but it had a large white inclusion even though it was treated. I passed on it, but I won't forget the color or flash.

 

[lilmosun]

I actually got my emerald ring at Intergem from a pearl vendor who knows nothing about colored stones. She had some CS rings that she was selling for a friend. But I've known her for years and my neighbor has known her for decades so I wasn't concerned about returning it if it was highly enhanced. She let me take it with just a down payment so I was able to send it to AGL before paying the balance.

 

[pregcurious]

Limosun, that sounds like a great find!

 

[T L]

I was a little surprised that I was able to see the polymer, and that I was able to get a picture at a resolution that I could post here.

I've learned a lot from this purchase. If I ever go to another gem show, I am bringing my loupe, UV-light, and UV glasses with me. I saw a beautifully colored emerald when I was at Intergem, but it had a large white inclusion even though it was treated. I passed on it, but I won't forget the color or flash.

LOL, I think you'll scare all the Intergem vendors away. Most probably can't stand educated, knowledgeable people like yourself.

Yes, white inclusions, or black ones, are to be stayed away from in emeralds.

 

[Xiao Xu]

Could you recommend some jewelry appraisals who would do appraisal on the Internet with pictures and GIA report? Thanks.

 

[chrono]

I'm not sure what you mean by appraisal on the Internet. The appraiser must have the stone in hand in order to appraise it properly.

 

[Bron357]

I have an emerald ring that I loved so much I just bought it. I don't know if it has treatments or infilling and frankly it doesn't matter to me. However, if I was buying a premium priced emerald, yes I would expect appropriate documentation that evidences only "minor" enhancement ie oiling. Some infilling can be done with coloured polymers, a big no no in terms of value of the emerald. It matters that you get what you pay for. An emerald with certified minor oil treatment will cost more than one without documentation.

 

[marionberry]

I am tempted to buy this strand ... but even thought the seller says the stones are not treated in any way, we probably must assume that they are, right? Oiled/dyed/in-filled. They might wear off, yellow and crack upon wear. Hach. Would a gem specialist be able to tell the kind of treatment right away? There is a gem fair that has some specialists where you can just bring in stones for inspection nearby coming up soon ... I wonder if I should just order the necklace and take it there....

What do you guys think?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/525633526/high-grade-genuine-colombian-emerald