Natural vs. Treated Ruby: What’s the Difference?

Rubies are captivating stones that come in deep red hues and are loved for their appearance and brilliance. The ruby stone have been cherished throughout history for their colour, rarity and astrological significance. The traditional value of the gems makes them more valuable these days. 

However, because of the increasing demand of the stones, today, treated rubies and lab-grown rubies are also present in the market. 

There are many differences between the treated and natural rubies. Their prices are very different as well. In this blog post, we will discuss natural vs treated ruby. 

Natural Ruby Stone – The Authenticity 

Naturally, rubies are formed in the earth’s crust over millions of years under extreme temperature and pressure. These gems have the natural properties of our Earth and are mined from the ground through various mining procedures. 

Here are some of the major characteristics of the natural ruby gemstones: 

• The naturally formed ruby stones which are not treated are mined from the Earth and are very rare. These gems are not found easily and hence their value is more.
  
• Not all the ruby stones are of good quality. Many of them have natural inclusions in them which affects their clarity. Sometimes, they have pale or very dark colour as well. So, clarity and colour are major aspects that determine the price of a ruby.
  
• Every region from where the rubies are found has different geological conditions hence the inclusions formed in these gems differ. So, the inclusions can actually help identify the authentication of a gem.
  
• Astrologically, it is believed that the Manik or ruby stones have to be worn original ones only. Only the natural stones will bring the wearer the energies that the gems hold. Ruby will bring you confidence, love, passion, self-belief, courage, and blessings of Sun, when you wear a natural and authentic one of good quality. 

Treated Rubies: Enhanced Beauty

Treated ruby gems are the ones that go through treatments. Many natural gems do not have good clarity or color, they have pale colors or color is not distributed uniformly. Sometimes, there are undertones and overtones as well. 

To enhance the appearance of these rubies, they are treated through various processes and are sold at good prices. 

Some of the common treatments used are: 

Heat Treatment – Heat treatment is the most common treatment done on ruby gemstones. The stone is treated at high temperatures to enhance the color and clarity until the desired color is acquired. 

Fracture Filling – This method is generally used to fill the surface which have any fractures. The fractures are filled by a glass-like substance. This process enhances the clarity of the gem. But this reduces the value of the gem. 

Diffusion Treatment – Another common treatment is diffusion in which elements that are required are diffused into the gemstone to improve the look. 

Identifying and Evaluating Rubies

While purchasing a Manik stone, you should understand the difference between the natural one and treated one, and decide which one you need to go for. 

Here are some of the evaluating tips for you:

Certification – always ask for a lab certification from a reputable laboratory that provides information about the gem. It will be written in the report if the gem is natural or treated. 

Clarity – You can use a magnifying glass or loupe to inspect inclusions, the inclusions can indicate the authenticity of the gem. 

Color – The most desired color of the gemstone is pigeon blood ruby. You should evaluate the color in the natural light. 

Price & Value – Natural rubies will always be more pricey than the treated ones. You should check the market value of the gems before going shopping. 

Wrapping Up 

Both natural and treated ruby stones look the same and have the same appeal but natural ones are more desired than the treated ones. Natural ruby stones are authentic, astrologically more powerful and great investments as well. 

You can choose the gem as per your preference and budget. Want to buy an original ruby stone, the purchase it now from Navratan, the online gem bazaar, where you will get original, genuine and lab-certified gemstones only. You can also get your gem jewelry customized, our expert team will help you throughout the process.