Restoring the beauty of emeralds: our exclusive cleaning and oiling method
As emeralds are brittle gemstones, they often bear fissures which may cause a visible optical discontinuity (considered to be a film of air whose refractive index triggers different optical properties from those of the gemstone).
Since the beginning of the use of emeralds as ornaments by different civilisations, this variety of beryl has frequently been filled over time with different materials (water, oil, resin, to name but a few) whose refractive index is closer to that of the emerald than that of air, in order to mask the disgracious features created by the fissures (mirror like effect, lack of transparency, etc.).
Given that over time some fillers, such as synthetic epoxy resins, can become slightly coloured and can harden and shrink (creating a certain amount of tension in an already fragile material), it is advisable to clean emerald to remove such fillers.
Our cleaning method has proven to be perfectly suited to this task, based on over 25 years of tests and research.
This safe method, which we keep secret, takes into account all the possible risks directly linked to the structure of the gemstone and the challenges inherent in removing fillers.
Once an emerald has been thoroughly cleaned and has reached the desired NCE (no clarity enhancement) state, our laboratory offers the option of re-oiling the newly cleaned emerald.
The high-quality cedar-wood oil we use has been meticulously selected from the vast range of natural oils for its refractive index, which is close to that of emerald, as it offers far greater longevity and stability than any other known substance.
(This process also smells very nice, which delights the operator when re-oiling 😊)
Picture 1 : cleaned emerald
Picture 2 : oiled emerald