The Identification of Faceted Gemstones: From the Naked Eye to Laboratory Techniques

Identifying faceted gemstones involves practices that are closely related to the classical determinative methods used by mineralogists. Measurements of optical and physical properties, combined with acute observation using various illumination techniques, are usually sufficient to determine the nature of a gem. Determining the geographic origin of a gem or the enhancement treatments it was subjected to, however, can require the expertise of an experienced gemologist and a combination of spectroscopic laboratory techniques.