The essentials jewelry testing tools you should know
Loupe
You’ll need magnification. Start with a good quality 10x (ten power) loupe. Some economy loupes on the market range from mediocre to very good quality.
Microscope
You’ll also need a microscope for studying inclusions. This is often the only way to separate natural gems from their synthetic counterparts.
Gem refractometerMeasuring the refractive index (RI) of your gems will be a high priority. You can do this with a microscope, but a refractometer is the best tool.
Dichroscope
Next on the list is one of the most inexpensive gemology tools. The
calcite dichroscope is a small, hand-held instrument that separates the colors in dichroic materials
Polariscope
Equally important (and just a little more expensive) is a
gemstone spectroscope. It’s used in conjunction with a loupe or a strainless (not stainless) sphere, which is a glass sphere with no strain lines in it.
Spectroscope
If you’re serious about gemology and gem identification, you’ll need a spectroscope to study a gem’s absorption spectrum.