When you venture into the market to buy an astrological gemstone, you will encounter a dazzling array of options. However, beneath the sparkle lies a critical distinction that can make the difference between an effective astrological remedy and a worthless piece of colored stone: the difference between natural and treated gemstones. For astrological purposes, this distinction is not just a detail; it is everything. A natural gemstone is one that has been mined from the Earth and simply cut and polished. A treated gemstone has undergone one or more artificial processes to enhance its color or clarity. While these treatments make the gem more visually appealing and commercially desirable, Vedic astrology and other ancient traditions are unequivocal in their stance: such treatments destroy the gemstone’s inherent life force (‘prana’) and its ability to channel planetary energies. Therefore, for a gemstone to work as an astrological remedy, it must be 100% natural and untreated.
What are Natural Gemstones?
A natural gemstone is a mineral crystal created by nature over millions of years, under immense heat and pressure deep within the Earth. Its color, clarity, and internal characteristics (inclusions) are all a result of this natural geological process. When we talk about a natural gemstone for astrological use, we mean a stone that has only been subjected to cutting and polishing after being mined. No other process has been used to alter its appearance. The presence of natural, minor gemstone inclusions is often a welcome sign, as it can be an indicator of the stone’s natural and untreated origin.
What are Treated Gemstones?
The vast majority of gemstones available in the mainstream jewelry market today (over 90% for some varieties like sapphires and rubies) are treated. Gemstone treatment, also called ‘enhancement’, is any process other than cutting and polishing that improves the appearance of a gem. Common treatments include:
- Heating (Thermal Enhancement): This is the most common treatment. Gemstones like sapphires and rubies are heated to extremely high temperatures to intensify their color and improve their clarity.
- Irradiation: Some gems, like blue topaz, are exposed to radiation to create or deepen their color.
- Fracture Filling: Surface-reaching cracks in gems like emeralds are often filled with oil, resin, or glass to make them less visible.
- Dyeing: Porous gems like pearls or corals can be dyed to improve or change their color.
- Diffusion: Chemicals are penetrated into the surface of a stone during heating to change its color, as is common with ‘diffused sapphires’.
These treatments make lower-quality stones look like high-quality ones, making them more saleable. However, they come at a high energetic cost.
The Astrological Verdict: Why Treatments Nullify a Gem’s Power
Vedic gem therapy is based on the principle that gemstones are conduits of subtle cosmic energy. This energy is a function of the stone’s unique, perfectly ordered crystalline structure and natural vibration, which took millions of years to form. Artificial treatments are seen as a violation of this natural integrity.
- Disruption of Crystalline Structure: The extreme heat used in thermal enhancement is believed to permanently alter the gem’s atomic lattice and its natural vibrational frequency. It’s like reformatting a hard drive—the original, subtle information is wiped clean.
- Loss of ‘Prana’ (Life Force): The intense, artificial processes are thought to ‘kill’ the gemstone, rendering it energetically inert. The stone loses its life force and its ability to resonate with its ruling planet.
- Introduction of Artificial Energy: Treatments like irradiation or filling introduce foreign materials and energies into the stone, which can interfere with the pure transmission of planetary vibrations.
An astrologically effective gemstone must be ‘live’. A treated gemstone, no matter how beautiful, is considered ‘dead’ from an energetic standpoint.
This table summarizes the crucial differences for astrological use.
| Feature | Natural, Untreated Gemstone | Treated (Enhanced) Gemstone |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of Qualities | Color and clarity are 100% natural, as created by the Earth. | Color and/or clarity have been artificially altered or improved by humans. |
| Energetic State | ‘Live’ – Possesses natural prana and vibrational frequency. | ‘Dead’ – Natural energy is believed to be destroyed or altered. |
| Astrological Effectiveness | Highly Effective. Can properly channel planetary energies. | Ineffective. Considered null and void for remedial purposes. |
| Inclusions | May have minor natural inclusions, which are acceptable. | May appear flawless, but often because fractures have been filled. |
| Value and Rarity | Much rarer and more valuable due to its natural purity. | More common and less valuable than its untreated counterpart of similar quality. |
| Certification | A lab certificate will state “No indications of heating” or “No evidence of treatment.” | A lab certificate will disclose the treatment (e.g., “Heated” or “Resin Filled”). |
FAQs on Natural vs. Treated Gemstones
Here are answers to some common questions regarding gemstone authenticity for astrology.
1. How can I be sure a gemstone is untreated?
You cannot tell just by looking. The only way to be certain is to purchase your gemstone from a reputable dealer who specializes in astrological gems and who provides a certificate from an independent, recognized gemological laboratory (like GIA, GRS, C. Dunaigre, etc.). The certificate must explicitly state that there are no indications of any treatment.
2. A jeweler told me that heating is a standard practice and accepted. Is this true?
It is true that heating is a standard and accepted practice in the mainstream jewelry industry. However, it is absolutely not accepted for astrological purposes. A jeweler’s definition of ‘good quality’ is based on appearance, while an astrologer’s definition is based on energetic purity.
3. Are treated gemstones bad to wear as regular jewelry?
No. If you are wearing a gemstone purely for its beauty as a piece of fashion jewelry, then a treated stone is perfectly fine and can be a more affordable way to own a beautiful gem. The distinction only matters when you are seeking the astrological or healing benefits.
4. My emerald was sold to me as ‘oiled’. Is this a treatment?
Yes, oiling is a form of fracture filling and is considered a treatment. The vast majority of emeralds are oiled to improve their clarity. Finding a completely untreated, high-quality emerald is very difficult and expensive. This is why it’s crucial to buy from a trusted source who can procure such a stone.
5. Is a natural, included gemstone better than a clean, treated one for astrology?
Yes, 100% of the time. An untreated gemstone with some visible natural inclusions that do not severely hamper its beauty will be astrologically effective. A treated gemstone that looks perfectly clean will have no astrological effect whatsoever. Always prioritize ‘natural and untreated’ over ‘flawless’.
6. Does the price difference reflect the astrological value?
Yes. An unheated ruby or sapphire of good quality can be 5 to 10 times more expensive than a heated stone of the same appearance. This huge price premium is a direct reflection of its rarity and its value to those seeking its natural, unaltered energy, including astrological buyers and high-end collectors.