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Tips For Becoming A Resourceful Gemologist

By Mithun Rao

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Published: 04Nov2008
Word count: 728
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It had been a long, busy day for John. It was his first day at his job as an assistant manager at a new jewelry store. He had recently earned his gemologist diploma and was working at his first management post in this store. Just five minutes before closing time, a well dressed man walked into the store. He had a box in his hand, which had an engagement ring. My fiance just broke up with me, he said. This ring cost me a lot of money. I don't want to see it anymore. Brings back too many memories. Holding the ring out to John, he said, make me an offer!

John looked at the ring. A large, impressive affair, the ring had a big white stone in the center surrounded by small, colored stones. The mounting seemed to be of a good quality. But something about the stone did not quite feel right. John noticed that the facets did not quite look sharp enough, and that the stone had an almost imperceptible, greenish tint. Meanwhile, the man was growing impatient. How long does it take for you to evaluate a 1 Carat diamond, he asked.

John remained calm and answered matter-of-factly, Sir, it is not easy to judge the quality of a stone in few minutes. I am going to have a closer look. And he picked up his loupe. He raised the ring for a closer look. He caught a glimpse of two facet reflections through the side of the gem's crown, where there should have been only one.

Right away, John knew that that stone was not a diamond. Can't you come up with a figure now, the man pressed on. After double checking and making sure, John finally replied, I am sorry Sir, I can not make you an offer on this piece. The stone is not a diamond. Without a word, the man took the diamond and hastily exited from the shop.

Observing all this, one of the sales associates walked up to John and congratulated him. You know, I would not have known. I would have asked him to leave the ring with us. John sighed. Maybe, even the customer had no idea about it either, but I doubt it. And if he had left the piece with us, he would have come back the next day and accused us of switching stones.

That day, John's product knowledge, quick thinking and confidence had saved the reputation of the store and had protected it from making a loss. It is in situations like these that the practical experience of identifying gemstones can really come in handy. Observation is the key to determining if a gemstone is real or fake. Sometimes a skilled eye and a loupe is all it takes to make sure of a stone's authenticity.

Here are a few tips which will help you while you practice to become a successful gemologist:

-Carry your loupe / lens with you wherever you go. You never know when you may need it.

-Make a habit of studying every gemstone with your loupe, even if it is a common gemstone like a citrine or an expensive gemstone like an emerald. Just observe the stone with your loupe. This is the best way of learning about the distinct features of each gemstone- the fractures, the feathers, the inclusions, the color etc.

-When you are studying a gemstone, make it a habit to feel the heft (specific gravity) of each stone by hand. Guess the weight and check it by measuring the stone's weight on a scale. This is a great way to be able to accurately guess a stone's weight.

-If you are not sure of the identity of a stone, then do not guess. Just tell the client that it needs more testing and you cannot know that with just the loupe. It is better to avoid making a wrong assessment.

-While you are going to a friend's house, to the market or anywhere, never ever leave an opportunity to see a gemstone.

-Always keep yourself updated about the latest news about synthetics, treatments and gemstone enhancement techniques in the market.

And most of all, observe and be careful in all your dealings. Keep your wits about you and follow these tips and you will soon have the makings of a good gemologist.

Mithun Rao, a gemologist has an obsession for gemstones and jewelry since more than 10 years. He is at present working on a site called gehnabazaar.com, which lists the various gemology Institutes and jewelry schools .

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