Re-oiling emeralds at home?

[Miss Confused]

Hi guys,

Whelp, don't kill me but thinking about reoiling an emerald ring. Ring is a 7 stone totalling 1.47tcw of muzo emeralds originally with light oil. I always assumed I was going to need to re-oil it at some point as I knew I wouldn't be babying it, but covid and all that hand sanitizer / hand washing plus a few times of forgetting and cleaning it with the rest of my jewellery has left them looking more matte than I would like after just 5 years of wear.

Has anyone done it and can share their experience? Currently planning to just get some cedar oil and do it but reading I should clean it properly (for any remnants of old oil) first. Not using a jeweller for this due to where I live and not wanting to ship it out of country

 

[chrono]

1. Can you get the correct type of cedarwood oil? There are several different qualities and it is important that you use the correct type.

2. Do you have the right equipment to oil your emerald? Air must be removed from the fissures in a vacuum tank, and oil filler added under the same vacuum so as not to have any air bubbles trapped.

Note that cedarwood oil is highly viscous (like honey) so it is not something you just rub in or soak your emerald in overnight and call it done.

 

[Autumn in New England]

1. Can you get the correct type of cedarwood oil? There are several different qualities and it is important that you use the correct type.

2. Do you have the right equipment to oil your emerald? Air must be removed from the fissures in a vacuum tank, and oil filler added under the same vacuum so as not to have any air bubbles trapped.

Note that cedarwood oil is highly viscous (like honey) so it is not something you just rub in or soak your emerald in overnight and call it done.

Chrono took the words right out of my mouth. I've seen some "how to's" on DIY emerald re-oilings, so perhaps it can be done. Though some recommend baby oil - eek. But I feel like this is one of those things you want to place in the hands of professionals. George Smith mentioned that he has a vacuum chamber solely for this purpose, and that the quality of materials and method used are crucial. You must also properly remove any traces of existing oil (or resin) without damaging the stone, before proceeding. In any event, good luck!

 

[Miss Confused]

1. Can you get the correct type of cedarwood oil? There are several different qualities and it is important that you use the correct type.

2. Do you have the right equipment to oil your emerald? Air must be removed from the fissures in a vacuum tank, and oil filler added under the same vacuum so as not to have any air bubbles trapped.

Note that cedarwood oil is highly viscous (like honey) so it is not something you just rub in or soak your emerald in overnight and call it done.

Great way of saying - "unless you are a professional, outsource". Will do some better searching for someone or just live with it. Color is still what I love and why I got it

 

[Miss Confused]

Chrono took the words right out of my mouth. I've seen some "how to's" on DIY emerald re-oilings, so perhaps it can be done. Though some recommend baby oil - eek. But I feel like this is one of those things you want to place in the hands of professionals. George Smith mentioned that he has a vacuum chamber solely for this purpose, and that the quality of materials and method used are crucial. You must also properly remove any traces of existing oil (or resin) without damaging the stone, before proceeding. In any event, good luck!

Thanks Autumn, had originally assumed it was a professional set-up type of thing but then you read so many articles and you get tempted

 

[Avondale]

To be fair, if you're willing to experiment, and have read sufficiently on the subject, then why not. I mean, what's the worst that could happen, really? Emeralds have been oiled long, long before we had vacuum tanks to utilise in the process. The cleaning at home is a relatively straightforward process, just soak in acetone overnight. And if for whatever reason you dislike the end result of home oiling, just repeat the cleaning. In essence you'll have an untreated emerald.

If you decide to do it, do tell us how it went afterwards!

 

[PrecisionGem]

Here's some equipment:

Vayu Emerald Oiling Machine - Kalpana Machine Tools

All New Vayu Emerald Oiling Machine. Vayu machine is used to enhance the beauty of gemstones. It is used to fill oil between the cracks on gemstone. Vayu

kmtjaipur.com

If you undertake this at home, you may find warming the stone and oil will help it to get into the inclusions on the stone.

Are you sure it needs oil? Maybe the matt look is because the facets surfaces are scuffed up.

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

I have a confession to make. Back in the 1990s we took a vacation in North Carolina and took our son to a salted mine. We got some emeralds and I oiled them. I used mineral oil and a tiny dip-sized crockpot. They did look better!

 

[Miss Confused]

To be fair, if you're willing to experiment, and have read sufficiently on the subject, then why not. I mean, what's the worst that could happen, really? Emeralds have been oiled long, long before we had vacuum tanks to utilise in the process. The cleaning at home is a relatively straightforward process, just soak in acetone overnight. And if for whatever reason you dislike the end result of home oiling, just repeat the cleaning. In essence you'll have an untreated emerald.

If you decide to do it, do tell us how it went afterwards!

Haha this is pretty much exactly what my thought process was - like worst case I re-clean it

 

[Miss Confused]

Here's some equipment:

Vayu Emerald Oiling Machine - Kalpana Machine Tools

All New Vayu Emerald Oiling Machine. Vayu machine is used to enhance the beauty of gemstones. It is used to fill oil between the cracks on gemstone. Vayu

kmtjaipur.com

If you undertake this at home, you may find warming the stone and oil will help it to get into the inclusions on the stone.

Are you sure it needs oil? Maybe the matt look is because the facets surfaces are scuffed up.

Thank you Gene. I had read that I should be warming things up first

I don't think its just the facets as it's a 7 stone and its even across the stones

 

[Miss Confused]

I have a confession to make. Back in the 1990s we took a vacation in North Carolina and took our son to a salted mine. We got some emeralds and I oiled them. I used mineral oil and a tiny dip-sized crockpot. They did look better!

Yay! Some experience

Also sounds like a great activity with your son