What Does It Mean When an Emerald Is Oiled?

If you’ve ever been told that an emerald is oiled and that raised some doubts, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many people think “oiled” sounds artificial or negative, when in reality it’s a normal, traditional, and widely accepted practice in the world of emeralds, especially Colombian ones.

In fact, understanding what it means for an emerald to be oiled will really help you buy smarter, properly value the gemstone, and avoid common myths. So let’s go step by step, without strange technical jargon.

Colombian Emeralds: The Best Color and Brilliance in the World

Not to sound overly patriotic, but Colombian emeralds are globally recognized for having the finest green tone, unique saturation, and an internal glow that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world.

That deep, vivid color comes from very specific geological conditions. And precisely because of their natural origin, Colombian emeralds contain inclusions—something completely normal. These inclusions are what, in some cases, make the use of oil advisable to enhance the stone’s appearance without altering its essence.

What Is Oil in an Emerald?

Oil in an emerald is a traditional treatment that has been used for centuries. Basically, it consists of applying a transparent oil to fill natural micro-fractures in the gemstone, improving its visual clarity and brilliance.

Important note: oil does not change the color, does not “mask” the stone, and does not make it fake. It simply helps light travel better inside the emerald. Think of it like moisturizing your skin—it doesn’t change who you are, it just helps you look your best.

Types of Oils Used in Emeralds

Not all oils are the same, and this is one of the most important things to understand when buying an emerald:

Natural oil (cedarwood oil)

• The most traditional and highly valued

• Fully accepted in high jewelry

• Does not damage the emerald

• Reversible

Modified natural oils

• Similar to cedarwood oil

• Less common

• Accepted if properly disclosed

Synthetic treatments (such as perma)

• Not natural oils

• Penetrate more deeply

• Reduce the value of the emerald

• Not the same as a lightly oiled emerald

So, What Does It Mean When an Emerald Is Oiled?

It simply means that oil was used to optically improve its natural inclusions. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s not bad, it’s not a defect, and it doesn’t make the emerald artificial. In fact, most high-quality emeralds in the world are oiled to some degree.

What really matters is not whether the emerald has oil, but what type of oil was used and how much. A lightly oiled emerald with natural oil can even increase in value, because it looks cleaner and more brilliant without losing authenticity.

Tips for Buying an Oiled Emerald

Here are some key tips that can save you a lot of trouble:

• Natural oil is not aggressive to emeralds

• A lightly oiled emerald can be more valuable than an untreated but dull one

• Natural oil is not the same as treatments like perma

• Always ask what treatment the gemstone has

• Buy only from jewelers who are clear and transparent

Emerald By Love: The Finest Emeralds, Only Natural Oil

At Emerald By Love, we work exclusively with natural Colombian emeralds, treated only with traditional oil—never perma or aggressive treatments.

We believe in transparency, educating our clients, and offering authentic gemstones that retain their value over time. Because a well-chosen emerald is not just a piece of jewelry… it’s an investment, a story, and a legacy.

Paula A. Bonilla

Social communicator and journalist from Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Colombia. Passionate about constantly learning about precious gemstones and high jewelry. She currently works for one of Bogotá’s most important jewelry houses, Emerald By Love, a company with over 40 years of experience in emeralds and two physical locations in the historic center of Colombia’s capital.