Interesting. I purchased the gemstone estate from a fellow in Idaho a few yrs ago. Not knowing ANYTHING about semiprecious stones. I suspect she bought most from QVC and the like. But there are stones called goshenite. We dug for the garnets you like one cold day in Idaho & found some, but it was _hard_ work. We have Morgan Hill poppy jasper used to be RockHounds but too much moving and I'm not anymore.
Do you happen to have more information on garnet identification? Is the spectroscope the proper tool for garnet? I just found your channel and I'm really liking your content
Great question - garnets are actually 2 families of minerals that intergrow. Some of those garnets have diagnostic spectra, so the spectroscope would be the fastest way for those stones (link below to that video). Others however wont have spectra and the standard process of gem identification will be necessary (refractive index and optic character etc). th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=71SJ9hNUhD1KIOIl
If I had two linear polarizers, could I use those as a makeshift Polariscope? I’m assuming it works by putting a light through a linear polarizer, into the crystal, and then viewing it through a second linear polarizer.
Yes ~ to a limited degree, using something like polarized sunglasses in conjunction with polarized light like a cellphone screen with a solid colour (often a white background) can work. I'd say definitely test it to figure out what works and doesn't before you NEED it to work in a buying situation.
Hi Leena, thank you. As to evaluating ruby rough, that is a skillset held by some very experienced people. Ruby specialists would be the ones to ask, as the general market hardly ever sees ruby rough, let alone has the experience to say which pieces will cut top quality vs commercial quality.
I love to test my gems if they are real! Everybody can easily test these properties at home without expensive special equipment: Birefringence: Open any white page on your PC, put on polarized sunglasses, look through the stone and turn it slowly. Lighting up facets mean non-cubic crystal, such as corundum, beryl and many more, no lighting up means either glass, crystal opal, natural spinel, garnet or in theory diamond (all amorphous or cubic) and a wobbly disgusting pattern means synthetic spinel. Specific gravity: Put a light and small cup or can on a precision scale, fill it with water and hang your stone into it on thin yarn, it doesn't touch ground. The scale shows the amount of displaced water by the stone. Divide the stone weight by the water weight and you have your specific gravity. A chelsea filter is very cheap and offers several more possibilities to differentiate, such as synthetic quartz vs. aquamarine (pink vs. green). By combining these methods everyone can easily learn a lot about their gems and if they are what they claim to be. Good luck everyone!
If you have known gemstones of a similar appearance and different specific gravity (SG), then yes it can. The problem is, we can't generally assume that we know what we have in front of us. Additionally, calculating SG is a time consuming pain, and any error in the scale (very common in inexpensive scales), or your calculation can throw you off the trail. If we're out in the field, we're not likely to have a USD 1000 scale and an S.G. apparatus eh? For stones like quartz and beryl, we wont be able to be sure we've distinguished them with S.G. For Topaz ~ probably. Other collector stones that could come in with the mine run and look identical to the above? who knows what their properties are. All that said - my view is that SG is generally too much work for too little surety.
@@GemologyforSchmucks yes, I have light purple crystal. It's hard for me to identify if it is amethyst, ametrine, or morganite. I still learn about the inclusion. Thank you for the explanation.
Just found your channel. I just recently came across some gemstones. Lots of quartz tourmaline and garnets agates. Not sure what all of them are. Got any advice how to sell some?
Selling is a big question I get from a lot of people, so i'm working on how to best communicate it. The short cryptic answer is: the same way as everything of value. The slightly more fleshed out (but still insufficient) answer is - you need to go to those who are interested in your types of stones and offer in those forums. There are facebook groups for selling gems, there are auction websites, and some people sell exclusively through instagram. The important thing is how you show value and also, how you price your goods relative to whatever else is floating around in these markets. Being sure what your stones are would be a good first step. Otherwise, you can offer it "As Is" as a mine run (unknown bag of crystals from the earth). The mine run approach may make it easier to sell, but it will definitely hurt the price you can offer it for because it's a literal gamble. Cheers
With rough stones you'd need a polished facet in order to use the refractometer, but a spectroscope could help you to some extent. Rough red corundum (ruby) should still have a distinctive absorption spectrum. Below is a link to a video I made on that tool. th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Gm73KlqRQtsROdqf
Crazy how white topaz is $2 a gram but imperial topaz can be $15k a gram. Most people have heard about topaz, but far less know about goshenite, which might make selling the former set in jewelry easier to sell. But tell them it's white sapphire and now you have increased interest. Jewelers are so good at marketing, the terms that entice and how to appeal to the general public. A spectroscope is affordable, and a periscope slightly less, but a refractometer yikes, just the tiny bottle of fluid is $80. The moral is try to make friends with your local gemologist kids!
Perceived value is definitely a thing. That said - the crispy lustrous look of goshenite is far better than quartz in my opinion and at the end of the day its more about building skills to be used on aquamarine and morganite eh? It's certainly not a rare stone.
@@GemologyforSchmucks I guess the main difference between selling goshenite versus white topaz would be the level of clientele. Your videos have done more to stress the importance of diagnostic equipment more than any other channel. You have convinced me that part of being an excellent cutter is to study gemology in depth both to properly identify gems and to cut in proper orientation. Bravo Peter!
Hi Peter, Hope you are doing well. I have rough emeralds ,Weight: 113 cts plus ,Size: under ct to 7.60 ct , Origin: swat mine. I bought them 1250 USD. Since they range from Ct to 7.60 Ct, some of them are worht less, after cutting can bring me 3 cts stones roughly apart from the one crt stones. Where can i find the prices of Emerald to have an idea of the price i put them on sale on Etsy. Is there any use of 1 crt or smaller stones ? Thanks
@@MichaelP-w4u it would be best to seek out a gem or mineral club near you. Shipping specimens can be quite expensive, and testing unpolished crystals has its own challenges.
Hi Achintha ~ a loupe and the right experience will go a long way to distinguish natural from synthetic or simulant. If you're asking for something easier, the answer short answer is no. natural and synthetic stones have the same physical and crystalline properties, so it comes down to being able to recognize natural features vs synthetic ones.
The mineral - generally yes, but the question is in which quality. Facet grade spessartite in the best colours, is often sold behind the scenes rather than the open market.
Hallo ~ I would recommend you to find an experienced gemologist closer to where you live. The logistics of sending stones across borders several times, plus my services, would make the process prohibitively expensive.
A pro is not defined as someone who has the most expensive equipment, but as the one who understands what information the equipment gives them. While I do know some individuals who have purchased one of a variety of Raman spectrometers and other advanced equipment, the vast majority of gemologists put their education to use using much more fundamental equipment. Any more complex questions can be answered by a gem laboratory for a standard fee. That said, you're welcome to spend upwards of USD 15,000 on a machine if you think that will help you circumvent the struggles of learning.
Hi Ricky, welcome to the channel. The video on the spectroscope may be of use to you, if you think you have a (red or orange) garnet. Link below th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3amdrBv2K5ASVE39
Thats clearly missinformation. Its very easy to tell topaz from a beryll apart. And you dont need to polish a mineral to tell what its made of. For those 2 minerals all you need is a common Diamond tester.... beryll is not conductive.
To begin with, "That's clearly missinformation(sic)" requires that you clarify your accusation. Gemology is a deductive process, and identification of a gemstone requires layers of data that can be relied upon to eliminate other possible gems. The process that you described of using a pen-type thermal/electrical conductivity tool can only be relied on deductively if you're 100% certain that the two rough stones in front of you are only either topaz or beryl. Any gemologist that values their reputation needs to keep their ego and experience in check long enough to know that they *can't* know what is in front of them based on hear-say and a single test. If you want to base your reputation on inductive reasoning and assumptions, then that is your choice. I prefer to bring as much certainty to the table as can be possibly be had.
You are the best gemology lecturer ever!!
I'm an Electrical Engineer studying about gemology from Ethiopia,Africa.
Thank you ~ welcome to the channel.
Your article on your website about windows, big faces, etc is AWESOME. I have enough knowledge to know what to look for when I unearth my boxes
Thanks very much~ I'm glad i've been of service, and hope to continually be so.
your students from africa thank you teacher keep going sir...👍💯💯
Thank you ~ I'm glad to be of service to the eager learner.
@@GemologyforSchmucks WELCOME WITH OPEN HANDS SIR..💯💯🙏🙏
Hi peter you are the best teacher iam glad to listen your channel
Thanks Abdullahi. My pleasure to serve.
Thank you ❤ as always 100% worth my time !
Thanks for your support Kaihan.
Interesting. I purchased the gemstone estate from a fellow in Idaho a few yrs ago. Not knowing ANYTHING about semiprecious stones. I suspect she bought most from QVC and the like. But there are stones called goshenite. We dug for the garnets you like one cold day in Idaho & found some, but it was _hard_ work. We have Morgan Hill poppy jasper used to be RockHounds but too much moving and I'm not anymore.
Surprise parcels can be a lot of fun ~ and profitable also
Do you happen to have more information on garnet identification? Is the spectroscope the proper tool for garnet?
I just found your channel and I'm really liking your content
Great question - garnets are actually 2 families of minerals that intergrow. Some of those garnets have diagnostic spectra, so the spectroscope would be the fastest way for those stones (link below to that video). Others however wont have spectra and the standard process of gem identification will be necessary (refractive index and optic character etc).
th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=71SJ9hNUhD1KIOIl
Thanks Peter. Very informative as always. Rog.👍
Cheers~ Thanks Rog
If I had two linear polarizers, could I use those as a makeshift Polariscope? I’m assuming it works by putting a light through a linear polarizer, into the crystal, and then viewing it through a second linear polarizer.
Yes ~ to a limited degree, using something like polarized sunglasses in conjunction with polarized light like a cellphone screen with a solid colour (often a white background) can work. I'd say definitely test it to figure out what works and doesn't before you NEED it to work in a buying situation.
Thank you 👍 My question answered 😊
Excellent~
Great as usual. Thank you.
But as usual, I have a question, what rough ruby is gem quality ?
Hi Leena, thank you. As to evaluating ruby rough, that is a skillset held by some very experienced people. Ruby specialists would be the ones to ask, as the general market hardly ever sees ruby rough, let alone has the experience to say which pieces will cut top quality vs commercial quality.
Just got some emerald rough about a week ago, I'm so excited to get them cut 😍
enjoy that~
I love to test my gems if they are real!
Everybody can easily test these properties at home without expensive special equipment:
Birefringence: Open any white page on your PC, put on polarized sunglasses, look through the stone and turn it slowly. Lighting up facets mean non-cubic crystal, such as corundum, beryl and many more, no lighting up means either glass, crystal opal, natural spinel, garnet or in theory diamond (all amorphous or cubic) and a wobbly disgusting pattern means synthetic spinel.
Specific gravity: Put a light and small cup or can on a precision scale, fill it with water and hang your stone into it on thin yarn, it doesn't touch ground. The scale shows the amount of displaced water by the stone. Divide the stone weight by the water weight and you have your specific gravity.
A chelsea filter is very cheap and offers several more possibilities to differentiate, such as synthetic quartz vs. aquamarine (pink vs. green).
By combining these methods everyone can easily learn a lot about their gems and if they are what they claim to be. Good luck everyone!
There are some excellent options for testing in the field, yes.
@@GemologyforSchmucks I definitely need a microscope one day.
Another informative video. Thanks!
Thanks Steven~
Love you´re videos!
I'm glad to be of service, Thoralf.
How about specific gravity test? Is that valid?
I was wondering that.
If you have known gemstones of a similar appearance and different specific gravity (SG), then yes it can. The problem is, we can't generally assume that we know what we have in front of us. Additionally, calculating SG is a time consuming pain, and any error in the scale (very common in inexpensive scales), or your calculation can throw you off the trail. If we're out in the field, we're not likely to have a USD 1000 scale and an S.G. apparatus eh? For stones like quartz and beryl, we wont be able to be sure we've distinguished them with S.G. For Topaz ~ probably. Other collector stones that could come in with the mine run and look identical to the above? who knows what their properties are.
All that said - my view is that SG is generally too much work for too little surety.
@@GemologyforSchmucks yes, I have light purple crystal. It's hard for me to identify if it is amethyst, ametrine, or morganite. I still learn about the inclusion. Thank you for the explanation.
Just found your channel. I just recently came across some gemstones. Lots of quartz tourmaline and garnets agates. Not sure what all of them are. Got any advice how to sell some?
Selling is a big question I get from a lot of people, so i'm working on how to best communicate it. The short cryptic answer is: the same way as everything of value. The slightly more fleshed out (but still insufficient) answer is - you need to go to those who are interested in your types of stones and offer in those forums. There are facebook groups for selling gems, there are auction websites, and some people sell exclusively through instagram. The important thing is how you show value and also, how you price your goods relative to whatever else is floating around in these markets. Being sure what your stones are would be a good first step. Otherwise, you can offer it "As Is" as a mine run (unknown bag of crystals from the earth). The mine run approach may make it easier to sell, but it will definitely hurt the price you can offer it for because it's a literal gamble. Cheers
@@GemologyforSchmucks thanks still learning about stones and crystals very too much info.
Thank you 👍
You're welcome, Chandra.
Is there any test you can do at home to test to see if you have a raw piece of crundum or red beryl
With rough stones you'd need a polished facet in order to use the refractometer, but a spectroscope could help you to some extent. Rough red corundum (ruby) should still have a distinctive absorption spectrum. Below is a link to a video I made on that tool.
th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Gm73KlqRQtsROdqf
Crazy how white topaz is $2 a gram but imperial topaz can be $15k a gram. Most people have heard about topaz, but far less know about goshenite, which might make selling the former set in jewelry easier to sell. But tell them it's white sapphire and now you have increased interest. Jewelers are so good at marketing, the terms that entice and how to appeal to the general public. A spectroscope is affordable, and a periscope slightly less, but a refractometer yikes, just the tiny bottle of fluid is $80. The moral is try to make friends with your local gemologist kids!
Perceived value is definitely a thing. That said - the crispy lustrous look of goshenite is far better than quartz in my opinion and at the end of the day its more about building skills to be used on aquamarine and morganite eh? It's certainly not a rare stone.
@@GemologyforSchmucks I guess the main difference between selling goshenite versus white topaz would be the level of clientele. Your videos have done more to stress the importance of diagnostic equipment more than any other channel. You have convinced me that part of being an excellent cutter is to study gemology in depth both to properly identify gems and to cut in proper orientation. Bravo Peter!
Hi peter I think I have painite where should I go I need your advice thank you
I suggest that you find a reputable lab that you can trust, and get a report from them. If you are in Bangkok, there are many.
Your videos are so impressive..keep going
Thanks, Sumeia~
Hi Peter,
Hope you are doing well.
I have rough emeralds ,Weight: 113 cts plus ,Size: under ct to 7.60 ct , Origin: swat mine. I bought them 1250 USD. Since they range from Ct to 7.60 Ct, some of them are worht less, after cutting can bring me 3 cts stones roughly apart from the one crt stones. Where can i find the prices of Emerald to have an idea of the price i put them on sale on Etsy. Is there any use of 1 crt or smaller stones ? Thanks
You would want to approach a dealer or cutter that works with Swat material to inquire further. This isn't a material I work with much at this time.
I need some help identifying some specimens that I have .
@@MichaelP-w4u it would be best to seek out a gem or mineral club near you. Shipping specimens can be quite expensive, and testing unpolished crystals has its own challenges.
Is there any tool to tell if a rough gemstone is fake or natural?
(a portable one)
Hi Achintha ~ a loupe and the right experience will go a long way to distinguish natural from synthetic or simulant. If you're asking for something easier, the answer short answer is no. natural and synthetic stones have the same physical and crystalline properties, so it comes down to being able to recognize natural features vs synthetic ones.
@@GemologyforSchmucks thank you
Is spessartite rough normally available?
The mineral - generally yes, but the question is in which quality. Facet grade spessartite in the best colours, is often sold behind the scenes rather than the open market.
@@GemologyforSchmucks interesting. It makes sense though.
Love from trichy 💌
Thank you for your support Durai~
Hey, I have some gemstone-like some I would love you to identify for me, but I am in uganda
Hallo ~ I would recommend you to find an experienced gemologist closer to where you live. The logistics of sending stones across borders several times, plus my services, would make the process prohibitively expensive.
Of course you can be 100% accurate with rough or cut equally. All you need is a Raman Shift Spectrometer. A pro should have one.
A pro is not defined as someone who has the most expensive equipment, but as the one who understands what information the equipment gives them. While I do know some individuals who have purchased one of a variety of Raman spectrometers and other advanced equipment, the vast majority of gemologists put their education to use using much more fundamental equipment. Any more complex questions can be answered by a gem laboratory for a standard fee. That said, you're welcome to spend upwards of USD 15,000 on a machine if you think that will help you circumvent the struggles of learning.
TH-cam bring me to your channel gladly, I have some beautiful Crystal stones and i am pretty sure it is garnet, but still need to ensure its specific.
Hi Ricky, welcome to the channel. The video on the spectroscope may be of use to you, if you think you have a (red or orange) garnet. Link below
th-cam.com/video/ul3dGfsNW_A/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3amdrBv2K5ASVE39
@@GemologyforSchmucks thank you so much, i will Catch up the video soon.
I just ripped on an amethyst 😞
I do that from time to time~ some amethysts are delightful also though.
Please share vidio in hindi language if possible
Thats clearly missinformation. Its very easy to tell topaz from a beryll apart. And you dont need to polish a mineral to tell what its made of. For those 2 minerals all you need is a common Diamond tester.... beryll is not conductive.
To begin with, "That's clearly missinformation(sic)" requires that you clarify your accusation. Gemology is a deductive process, and identification of a gemstone requires layers of data that can be relied upon to eliminate other possible gems. The process that you described of using a pen-type thermal/electrical conductivity tool can only be relied on deductively if you're 100% certain that the two rough stones in front of you are only either topaz or beryl. Any gemologist that values their reputation needs to keep their ego and experience in check long enough to know that they *can't* know what is in front of them based on hear-say and a single test. If you want to base your reputation on inductive reasoning and assumptions, then that is your choice. I prefer to bring as much certainty to the table as can be possibly be had.