Gemological Equipment

The Appraiser

The first and most important piece of equipment is the actual appraiser. Proper Training, Accreditation and Experience is the most critical piece of the puzzle.

The second part: Impartial, unbiased, and Independent assures you accurate appraisals !!

Sometimes, microscopic inclusions and color banding are the only way to distinguish natural from synthetic gems. This makes the microscope an essential lab instrument for gemologists trying to identify gemstones. A microscope will give you a large field of view and a bright image. It will also show alterations like fillings, dye concentrations, assembled stones, and diffusion treatments.

Binocular Microscope

Color Master Stones

Color Master Stones with given specific color from the GIA grading scale to aide in comparing color.

Diamond Lite

Aides in determining the color of a diamond.

Long Wave & Short Wave Ultraviolet Light

Can help aide in detecting a synthetic diamond and determines fluorescence in diamonds and gemstones.

Polariscope

The polariscope may be one of the most underestimated tools in gemology. Most gemologists use it to quickly determine if the stone at hand is isotropic or anisotropic or, at best, to determine the optic character of gemstones. With some small additions, one can determine both optic character and the optic sign of a gemstone.

Helping with gemstone identification. Determining whether or not a specimen is pleochroic can help make some quick separations.

Refractometer

This equipment tests a gemstone's ability to slow down or bend light. The amount of slowing down it does to a beam of light is called the refractive index.

Dichroscope

A pleochroic gemstone displays different colors when viewed along different directions of the crystal. A dichroscope is a handheld tool for viewing the different colors or shades of a pleochroic piece of rough.

Gemologists use spectroscopes to see a gem’s absorption spectrum. Learning how a gemstone interacts with light is a key step to identifying it. This can even indicate if the stone is natural or synthetic. .

Spectroscope

Electric Diamond Tester

A diamond tester distinguishes diamonds from all other minerals except moissanite. After determining that your stone is probably a diamond by using a diamond tester, you test it if you need to be certain it is not a moissanite.

For accurately weighing diamonds and precious gems.

Electronic Scale

Chelsea Filter

A Chelsea Filter is a dichromatic optical filter, meaning that it allows transmission of only 2 colors of light: deep-red wavelengths around 690 nanometers and yellow-green wavelengths around 570 nanometers. These match emerald's emission and absorption properties. Chromium-rich emeralds emit a red fluorescence when illuminated by white light that also has a content of ultraviolet wavelengths.

Tests all colors of gold from 6K to 24K and platinum.

Gold Tester

MM Gauge

Measures gemstone dimensions with an accuracy of 0.05 mm

Table Gauge

Designed for measuring tables of stones inaccessible by micrometer or caliper. This gauge offers accurate measuring to 0.01mm. A very fast and accurate scanning method which enables you to determine measurement without computing between marks, as on a conventional scale.