Identifying Gemstones

                                      Identifying Gemstones

                                                    Close-up of Pink Crystals

Gemstone identification can be tricky. Especially if you are a novice in this area, you will have a hard time figuring out what gemstone you are looking at without relying on some help.

However, if you are really passionate about your gemstones then there are ways that you can learn to identify gemstones. It will take a lot of practice and some serious mental training, and the truth is that with so many different gemstones out there, the learning process never really ends.

So how is it that some people learn how to identify gemstones just by looking at them?

Close-up of the Amethyst Stone

 

               The Process of Gemstone Identification

If you’ve ever tried to identify gemstones or even looked at someone trying to identify them, you are probably already aware that identifying gems is a process of finding clues and eliminating all impossibilities, until you are left with a very short list of possibilities, or in an ideal situation, only one possibility.

For instance, all rubies are red in color, but not all the red gems in the world are rubies. So while having a keen eye for the physical properties of the gem, you also need to have very good knowledge on the subject to be able to identify what kind of gemstone you are looking at.

A lot can be told about a gemstone just by looking at it for the first time if your gaze is careful. You don’t really require any fancy tools to analyze the stone; all you need is some light that will help you properly examine the gem.

To narrow your list down to a few possible gemstones, you will have to analyze the different aspects of the gem including the color, hue, tone, saturation, clarity, transparency, opacity, luster as well as the shape and size.

Here’s what to look at:

·       Color

The easiest way to shortlist the list of possible gems is just by looking at its color. Simply looking at it will get you more than halfway there. For instance, if a gemstone is green, it can’t be a ruby or an amethyst, apatite, a sunstone etc. It can, however, be an emerald, green sapphire, tourmaline, jade etc. So once you’ve narrowed it down, you have eliminated a lot of possibilities.

The problem however is that, although this is the most effective step, it is also the easiest one; the “suspect pool” you now have would be a lot more difficult to work with, since now you have a slot of similar looking gemstones in there that will be hard to eliminate.

·       Hue

As already stated above, determining through the color is the easy part. The next thing you have to look at is the hue. Going by the same example as before; if you have a green gemstone in front of you, is it more bluish-green or is it yellowish-green? These things can help you make huge progress. Like if it has more yellow in it, it could possibly be a peridot, but if it has more blue, it could be green flurite. If it doesn’t have any shades other than green, then it could be an emerald or a chrome tourmaline. So try to be as precise as possible while figuring out the hue.

There are about 31 hues that you can match your gemstone with in order to determine what kind it is. You can find GIA’s color wheel over here that will help you with this.

·       Tone

Now that you have determined the color and hue of your gemstone, it is time to look at the tone. Is it a light, medium or dark colored gem? You can further use the GIA color wheel to determine this, as according to that chart, there are around 7 levels of tones. And if you determine the exact tone, you have taken another step in the right direction. 

·       Saturation

Just like tone, saturation is another thing that will help you narrow down your list more. Look at your gemstone through a proper light source. Determine how intense the saturation of its color is. Is it very vivid or is it just flat? Remember that if a stone with a cold color has grey undertones, it would be considered flat. Whereas a warm colored gemstone with brown undertones would be considered flat.

·       Clarity

This one is a comparatively easy step. Take a good look at the stone; is it more transparent, translucent or plain opaque? Can you see through it? Can you look inside it? All of these things help determine what kind of stone it is.

·       Weight

You can use a scale for this, but if you don’t have one handy, you can also use your hand for it. Hold the gem in your palm and figure out how heavy it or light it is. Is the weight proportionate to its size or do you feel it’s fairly lighter or heavier than what you may have initially expected? This may be a difficult process to learn, but it can definitely help you eliminate a few possibilities from your “suspect pool”.

·       Luster

Finally, look at the luster of the gemstone; which means to figure out how it shines. Set the stone down and shine a light on it. Is it shining? Is it reflecting the light back or is it immersing it? There are different kinds of shines that you can recognize. For example, vitreous (which is like a glassy shine), silky, oily, waxy or adamantine (like diamonds). The gem may not be shiny at all, which will also help you eliminate a lot of possibilities.

How to Identify When a Stone Is NOT a Gemstone

Just like there are a lot of ways to recognize a gemstone, there are a few ways you can discard it from being a gemstone at all. Here is how to recognize when the stone you are looking at is not a gemstone at all.

·       Feel the Surface

A real gemstone always has a smooth or slippery texture. So feel the surface to check whether it is sooth or not. If it is rough or has a sandy texture, then it cannot be classified as a gemstone at all.

·       Check Its Malleability

A real gemstone has a crystalline structure. This makes it difficult to shape the stone by bending, hammering or crushing it. Instead, it needs proper fracturing, abrasion or even cutting to be shaped, as pressure alone will not work on it.

So a stone that is more easily malleable is more likely a plastic, or possibly metallic ore rather than an actual gemstone. However, do not try to hit the gemstone with a hammer. You cannot shape a real gemstone with a hammer but you can definitely crush it into a million pieces.

·       Check If the Stone Is an Assembled Stone

A real gemstone is entirely one piece. Whereas assembled stones are made with two or more materials combined together. These stones are usually made in labs and more often have synthetic materials mixed in them. These can be difficult to tell apart from their natural counterparts.

Look through the stone against a strong light source to look for any signs of assembly. Check if there is a difference of luster or if the stone doesn’t feel consistent for some reason. Identify the “red ring” affect. Place the stone on a surface and shine a penlight through it. If you see a red ring effect around it, it is an assembled stone.

Illuminated magnifying glass for gemstone inspection; https://amzn.to/3hlk4sI

 

The Art of Gem Identification

Ultimately, the final step of gem identification is the point where it becomes an art. You can look at the color, hue and saturation to eliminate stones, but finally, it will be your knowledge of gemstones that will help you make your final determination about it, along with your experience and observation. You can take precise measurements with proper instruments, but it will only get you so far.

Especially when you have to separate natural gemstones from synthetic ones, you have to trust your instinct and observation over everything else. The optical properties and physical measurements of a synthetic gemstone will be almost identical to its natural counterpart. Trying to differentiate between these will require keen observation, sometimes through a microscope to make proper judgment.

So ultimately, the final judgment depends on how much you plan to study gemstones.

Invest in a Gemstone Identification Chart

If gemstone collection and identification is something that you are passionate about, then it would be a good idea to invest in a gemstone identification chart. They are pretty affordable and can help you recognize a variety of gems. As you constantly reference the chart for identifying gems, you’ll eventually train your eyes to recognize stones by default.

Make sure that you buy a chart that is very comprehensive and includes most of the common and not so common gemstones, so you can learn about everything possible. Opting for a book by Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a good idea as their books are very detailed and accurate.

But if you just like to occasionally spend some fun time trying to identify them, then a basic chart would do as well. Something that is easier to understand and not too detailed will work for you a lot better than one that is filled with information that you aren’t particularly interested in.

So pick your chart according to your needs. (using our links cost the same, and help in our education, Thank you)

Small Fold out gem Chart; https://amzn.to/2OLGR4F

Laminated fold out Gem Chart; https://amzn.to/39igUmJ

Jewelry Made with Gemstones

             Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing

If you were a complete gemology novice before clicking this link, then chances are you’ve learnt a little something about the subject. However, a little knowledge can indeed be a dangerous thing.

Gemstones are a precious material and can be very expensive. So if you want to learn about gemology, you have to be a little more than a novice to make your endeavor worthwhile. You do not want to make a rash decision about a gemstone with limited knowledge as this could be very heavy on your pockets.

You also need to be cautious about who you trust with gemstone identification. Many of the jewelers don’t have as much experience with colored stones as you may expect. Unless someone is trained in gemology, they are more likely to make a decision based on their very limited knowledge. Even people who have graduated in Gemology can come across stones that they have never seen before.

So if you plan on buying or selling a gemstone, it is a good idea to take multiple opinions about it, instead of accepting the first possible answer.

 

Acquire Proper Knowledge

If you still believe that you want to learn more about the subject of gem identification, then you can take classes and earn an actual degree or certification in it. Gemology courses are offered at a lot of colleges and universities. It is possible that this may be an expensive decision that will require a lot of commitment, but if you are passionate about it and think you can make it work, then it will definitely be a worthwhile experience.

If you don’t have that kind of time or money, you can also opt for online courses that will help you get more than the basic ground knowledge of gemology, that will help you chase your passion. For instance, this site offers one such course on Gemology. And the best part is that you can work at your own pace if you take these classes. Want more ! Join our social sites below for video, downloads community, education, entertainment and more.

   

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