Oiling vs Ruby Treatments

Understanding the Oiling vs Ruby Treatments is crucial for buyers looking to make informed decisions. Enhancements are commonly used in the ruby industry to improve clarity, color, and overall appearance. Among these treatments, oiling is one of the methods used to reduce the visibility of surface-reaching fractures. However, it differs significantly from other treatments in terms of durability, effectiveness, and market value.

1. What Is Oiling in Rubies?

Oiling is a clarity enhancement technique where a colorless oil, such as cedarwood oil or synthetic resin, is applied to fill surface-reaching fractures. This makes the ruby appear clearer and enhances its brilliance. Unlike other treatments, oiling does not involve high heat or chemical alterations.

Characteristics of Oiled Rubies:

• Improves clarity by filling fractures with oil.
• Non-permanent; oil may fade over time.
• Can be removed by heat, cleaning agents, or ultrasonic cleaners.
• More common in emeralds but occasionally used in rubies.
• Less valuable than untreated or heat-treated rubies.

2. How Oiling Differs from Other Ruby Treatments

A. Oiling vs. Heat Treatment

Heat treatment is the most widely accepted ruby enhancement method. It uses high temperatures to improve color and clarity by dissolving inclusions and enhancing the ruby’s natural properties.

Key Differences:

• Heat treatment is permanent, while oiling is temporary.
• No foreign substances are added in heat treatment, whereas oiling fills fractures.
• Heat-treated rubies retain higher value, whereas oiled rubies are less valuable due to their non-permanent enhancement.

B. Oiling vs. Lead Glass Filling (Fracture Filling)

Lead glass filling is a more aggressive treatment where fractures are filled with lead-based glass to improve clarity. This method significantly alters the ruby’s composition.

Key Differences:

• Oiling uses natural or synthetic oils, while lead glass filling involves a foreign material (glass).
• Oiled rubies are more stable, while lead-glass-filled rubies are highly fragile.
• Lead-glass-filled rubies are much lower in value, whereas oiled rubies hold slightly better market acceptance.

C. Oiling vs. Flux Healing

Flux healing is a variation of heat treatment where a flux material is added during heating to “heal” fractures by filling them with ruby-like material.

Key Differences:

• Flux healing is more durable than oiling, as the filled fractures become more structurally stable.
• Oiling only temporarily hides fractures, while flux healing permanently improves clarity.
• Flux-healed rubies are more valuable than oiled rubies but still less valuable than untreated rubies.

D. Oiling vs. Diffusion Treatment

Diffusion treatment uses high heat and chemicals (such as beryllium) to enhance a ruby’s color by altering its composition at a molecular level.

Key Differences:

• Oiling affects clarity, not color, while diffusion treatment mainly enhances color.
• Diffusion-treated rubies can have artificial-looking color changes, whereas oiled rubies maintain their original hue.
• Diffusion-treated rubies have lower market value, as the color is artificially altered.

3. Value Differences Between Oiled Rubies and Other Treated Rubies

• Untreated Rubies: Most valuable, rare, and highly sought after.
• Heat-Treated Rubies: Accepted in the market, more affordable than untreated rubies.
• Flux-Healed Rubies: Less valuable than heat-treated rubies but still durable.
• Oiled Rubies: Less valuable due to the temporary nature of the treatment.
• Lead-Glass-Filled Rubies: Least valuable and fragile, often considered commercial-grade.

4. How to Identify Oiled Rubies vs. Other Treated Rubies

• Under Magnification: Oiled rubies may show a glossy or greasy appearance in fractures.
• Reaction to Cleaning: Oiled rubies may lose clarity after cleaning, while heat-treated rubies remain stable.
• Gemstone Certification: Laboratories such as GIA or AGL can determine if a ruby has been oiled or subjected to other treatments.

Conclusion

Understanding the Oiling vs Ruby Treatments helps buyers make informed choices. While oiling offers a temporary clarity enhancement, heat treatment and flux healing provide more permanent improvements. Oiled rubies require extra care and are less valuable than heat-treated rubies but are still preferable to lead-glass-filled stones. Always seek certification when purchasing a ruby to ensure transparency in treatment disclosure.

For more details, explore How Oiling Works in Rubies to learn about this common enhancement technique and its effects on appearance!