Fracture Filling vs Natural Stones: Which Is Better?

Introduction

When you walk in a jewellery store, if the seller has good intentions, then you will be presented with two choices, the choices being whether you want treated stone or untreated stones. on the face of it, the choice might look simple but when you dig deep into the concept of treated stones then you will understand that it is far more interesting and vaster than it appears. In the search of knowledge about treated stones one of the most prominent question in the market is of fracture filling vs natural stones.

To understand what a fracture-filled gemstone is, we have curated this blog which will help you understand the concept better. You will get answers to questions like is a flawless-looking gemstone always better? Or the untouched natural gemstone holds more value. Let’s get to the bottom of these questions so that you can make a choice for yourself with proper knowledge and not hearsay things.

What Are Natural Gemstones?

As the name suggests, natural gemstones are the stones which are retrieved directly through Earth without any altercations done to them. Theses gemstones form under the Earth’s surface under immense pressure and heat, taking million and billions of year without any human interference. After these stones are extrude from the nature, it is then cut and polished which makes them outshine their natural beauty further.

Natural stones like mentioned is formed under great pressure, which is why they have natural characteristics like inclusions, fractures, or even colour zoning. However, these characteristics are not considered as flaws rather they are the fingerprints for the experts to know the stone’s natural origin.

Key Characteristics of Natural Gemstones

Some of the key characteristics of natural stones are as follows:

• Natural stone will not have any artificial enhancement or chemical treatment done to it.

• It has unique inclusions and internal patterns making every stone different than the other.

• They are high in rarity especially the ones with high clarity grades.

• Natural stones are recommended and are the best for astrological purposes and investment market.

The reason why natural stones are prized higher is because of their authenticity and to see what nature has created.

What Is Fracture Filled Gemstones?

On the other hand, fracture filled gemstone are natural gemstones, but they are the ones which have gone through a specific treatment for improving their appearance. Fracture filling as the name suggests is the process where gemstone which have cracks or cavities are filled with oil, resin or glass for them to appear brighter and better to the customer.

The goal of any treatment done to the gemstone is simple, that is to make the stone look cleaner, brighter and more valuable.

How The Process Works?

The process of fracture filling in gemstones is as follows:

• The gemstone is firstly cleaned properly and thoroughly.

• Cleaning makes the fracture visible which is then filled under pressure or under vacuum.

• The filling material mostly consists of resin, glass, or oil in some cases which is injected in the gemstone.

• The stone is then polished for a finer and finished look to it.

This fracture filling treatment significantly improves visual appeal. This process can turn a low-grade stone into a high-quality stone through its appearance.

Why Do Gemstone Need Fracture Filling?

Now you must be wondering that if a natural stone is more valuable then why do these gemstone need gemstone filling?

The answer is because the nature dose not produces perfect gemstones that often. Most of the gemstones retrieved from the earth have internal fractures due to their formation. The reason why the fracture filling is done is because:

• They reduce transparency.

• They immediately affect the stone’s brilliance.

• They are lower in market value.

Just like makeup for human fracture filling in gemstones is a cosmetic enhancement. The process helps in masking the imperfections and makes gemstones more commercially acceptable. For example, gemstones like emerald are almost always treated as finding a clear natural emerald is extremely rare.

Fracture Filling vs Natural Stones: Key Differences

Now that we have an understanding of natural gemstones and fracture-filled gemstones separately, let’s also look at treated vs natural gemstones. The interesting bit is that the difference is far beyond the appearance. Let’s get to the points mentioned below.

Appearance

First things which is noticed in a gemstone is its appearance, therefore in terms of appearance:

• Fracture-filled gemstones are clearer, more transparent and more visually appealing.

• On the other hand, natural gemstones have inclusions or you can say imperfections in them, but they look more authentic.

The entire motive is to dramatically enhance clarity to an extent that sometimes flaws are almost invisible in some of the stones.

Value and Pricing

The second aspect considered while buying a gemstone is the value and price of the said gemstone, hence, in the matter of this comparison:

• Natural gemstones especially the untreated ones are rare and quite expensive.

• Fracture filled gemstones are more affordable as it enhances a low-grade stone into a high-grade looking stone as well.

This price gap between a natural gemstone and fracture filled gemstone is common as finding a natural stone with excellent clarity is rarer than one can think. Moreover, not just clarity, crat weight, colour and various other factors also change the price of the stone.

Durability

Durability of a gemstone is yet another factor which should be considered while going in this debate of treated vs natural gemstone.

Natural stones are more stable in terms of durability.

Fracture-filled stones can be more sensitive to heat, chemicals or even cleaning.

Extreme fracture filling in gemstones is mostly not advised because there is certain filling materials used in them that degrade the stone. The filling can sometimes even damage over time which requires maintenance.

Maintenance

• Natural stones are easier to maintain as they do not require any special care.

• Fracture-filled stones are even though natural, needs careful handling as they are delicate and are enhanced for better appearance.

For instance, the process of ultrasonic cleaning has the ability to damage filled stones as they remove the filling material from the stones

Pros and Cons of Fracture Filled Gemstones

Even though fracture-filling is not highly advised, everything has its pros and cons, let’s have a look at the pros and cons of fracture-filled gemstones

Pros

• These are more affordable option when buying gemstones.

• This process improves the visual appeal of the gemstone.

• These stones are widely available.

• These stones are more suited for fashion jewellery.

Cons

• In matter of longevity, these stones have lower value.

• These stones require careful maintenance.

• The treatment might not be permanent.

• These stones are not the desirable option for collectors and investors.

Pros and Cons of Natural Gemstones

Like fracture-filled stones have their pros and cons, likewise even natural stones have them. Natural stones might be better option in certain instances, but let’s understand the reasons in detail.

Pros:

• They are rare and have higher authenticity.

• They have better long-term value.

• Natural stones are ideal for astrology and investment.

• There is no risk of treatment or maintenance in the stone.

Cons:

• Natural stones are rare which makes them expensive.

• Natural stones have visible inclusions in them which makes it less appealing visually.

• They are limited in high quality.

• This limited factor makes them more prominent between the collectors and investors driving the price in market.

Are Fracture-Filled Gemstones Fake?

The biggest misconception in people is of that fracture filled gemstones are fake. This is completely false.

Fracture filled stones are natural stones. These are the low-quality natural stones which goes through certain procedure for enhancing their beauty and making them market and jewellery ready. These stones are not synthetic, lab-grown, or imitation stones, these are real natural gemstones. To understand this better, you can think of them as ‘enhanced natural’ rather than them being artificial.

How to Identify Fracture Filled Gemstones?

Now another question pops up is how to identify a fracture filled gemstone. The answer is not simple, spotting a stone like this is not easy, it requires experienced eyes, however, below are some signs for a layman that help:

• Flash effect which means that there should be blue or purple reflections under light.

• There will be tiny bubbles inside the stone.

• There will be uneven filling inside the stone’s fractures.

• There will be visible signs when seen under a microscope.

However, it is always advised to go for a certified gemstone from an authentic laboratory. The certificate will help you get a clearer picture.

Which is Better: Fracture Filling vs Natural Stones?

There is no definitive answer to which stone is better in the debate of fracture filling vs natural stone. The choice is dependent on every individual and their needs. Below is some pointer for each stone if you are confused and need help in deciding.

Choose Natural Gemstone when:

• You want to invest for a long-term value item.

• Your purpose is related to astrology or healing.

• Your preference is authenticity of the stone and not perfection.

• Budget is not a concern for your purchase.

Choose Fracture Filled Gemstone when:

• Your preference is a visually flawless stone along with a lower price point.

• The purpose of your purchase is strictly occasional or for fashion use.

• You have complete knowledge of different treatment done to a gemstone and you are okay with purchasing that.

A Practical Buying Perspective

We all known that not every buyer is a gemmologist, they go to a shop to find a beautiful piece which is value for their money on the basis of trust. This is the reason why to put it in simple words:

• If you prefer purity and rarity, then your choice should be a natural gemstone.

• But if appearance and affordability matter more to you then fracture filled gemstone is the way to approach.

Th entire conversation lies on transparency, therefore before making any purchase always ask these questions:

• Has this stone been treated?

• What type of filling was used?

• Is there a lab certification?

Conclusion

To conclude, the debate of fracture filling vs natural stone and which is better should not be the question. Rather the focus should be what exactly is the purpose of the purchase.

Natural gemstones have the raw story from Earth. They are the imperfect, rare and valuable gemstones. On the other hand, fracture filled gemstones are a mixture of nature and human intervention. These stone are available at a more accessible price point.

Neither of the gemstone is wrong, however, it is important to understand the difference between the both of them. This is where people make the most mistakes. If the purchase is done with utmost clarity, certificate and right set of questions then both the options are worth the money. It all comes down to your preference and choices.