Appraisal Instruments

Binocular Microscope - This instrument is used to illuminate and magnify gemstones and jewelry.  The gemstone or piece of jewelry is held in an easily maneuvered, spring-loaded clamp and illuminated from the top and bottom.  This instrument aids in the identification of internal and superficial flaws in gemstones.

Refractometer - This instrument measures the refractive index of a gemstone by allowing light to enter the back and then directing it to the gemstone through a convex glass.  A light or shadow is then cast on a measuring scale to determine the angle of refraction.

Polariscope - This instrument is used for examining gemstones in polarized light.  A gemstone is held between to Polaroid plates, and the light transmitted through the gem is analyzed.  Only gemstones with sufficient transparency can be examined with a polariscope.

Spectroscope - This instrument forms and measures reflected light from a gemstone especially in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.  A gemstone is placed in front of a slit in the spectrometer, and light is directed into the stone and as a result into the spectrometer where the elements involved with the resulting color of the stone can be determined.

Dichroscope - This instrument is used to examine crystals for dichroism or the property of exhibiting different colors by reflected or transmitted light.  Light is passed through a gem into the dichroscope, which is then passed through a calcite prism that uses its double refraction to separate the two polarized rays of a dichroic gemstone.

Ultraviolet Light (long & short wave) - This instrument is used to determine the fluorescence and phosphorescence of a gemstone using short wave and long wave radiation.  The gemstone is placed under the light to determine its properties.

Leveridge Gauge - This instrument is used to measure the diameter and thickness of a gemstone.  The gemstone is placed between the calipers to obtain the measurements.

Metal Testing Kit - This instrument is used to test gold and silver.  It consists of a black stone, which is used for taking scratch samples, and acids, which are dripped onto the scratch sample to identify the purity of the metal in question.

Diamond Master Stones - This instrument is used to identify the color of a diamond.  It consists of cubic zirconias colored from E to L, which are compared to a diamond to determine its color. 

Specific Gravity Liquids - This instrument is used to determine the weight of a gemstone.  The gemstone is immersed in a high density liquid to determine its specific gravity.  

Gram Scale - This instrument is used to determine the weight of a piece of jewelry.  Since carats are used to explain the weigh of a gemstone, these scales are primarily used to determine the weight of the metal in a piece of jewelry.

Colorimeter - This instrument determines and specifies the color of diamonds.