How Do You Use A Refractometer To Identify Gemstones?
A refractometer measures the refraction of light by an object. Refraction is the “bending” of light as it passes through some material and its measurement is called a refractive index. Refractometers are commonly used to identify gemstones because gemstones of the same color frequently have other optical properties that are very different. A refractometer can accurately identify gemstones by measuring a variety of these properties and comparing the test results to known values. Clean the stone and place a single stone on the glass prism. Use the largest polished facet for faceted stones. Otherwise use the most polished surface. Slide the selected surface of the stone carefully into the liquid with your fingers. Close the cover. View the stone through the refractometer under white or monochromatic light, typically with a special pen light. Move the light source to the back of the refractometer and point it through the viewing lens. You will know the light is pointed correctly when you c
