Thanks Peter, this should come in handy when i venture to the mines to start buying. And in a trade where ignorance and deception are second nature and unforgiving ,such practical tips are priceless....Thanks again man.
Worked well. Tried it on 2 emeralds, and a sapphire. Even with the emeralds being basically opaque, I could see a distinct blinking when I spun it in different directions.
Peter, I LOVE your episodes on identifying gemstones. Another very helpful video, Peter ❤. In "The Crown" there's a scene where Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Denmark and Greece, now a Nun in Greece, attempts to raise funds by selling her huge Ceylon sapphire surrounded by diamonds. The pawn shop "jeweler", tells the elderly nun no real sapphire is that large. She doesn't argue, but confidently replies, "Test it." Pawn dealer then gets what appears to be a regular pair of glasses and carefully examines the jewel. As he begins to see it may be authentic he takes the sapphire, holds it near his mouth and exhales on it. I am just wondering what information the "technique of exhaling on the stone" was supposed to reveal? (The Crown, Season 3, Episode 3 or 4, called "Bubbikins" approx.10 minutes into episode.)
Thank you~ and i'm glad you're enjoying my work. I should probably do a video on popular BS myths of the gem world. Breathing on a stone doesn't provide definitive information that can be relied on for gem ID. CERTAINLY wouldn't distinguish between natural and synthetic, the latter of which was already invented by that time.
Dude, you are doing great work for the gem stone community. I subscribed and look forward to more videos. Before i go binge diving your your YT catalog, did you ever make a video about stones being heat treated to be disguised as others? Also what app or book did you use/study to help identify raw stones before polishing/tumbled. Congrats on all your success, and thank you for being you.
Thank you for your high praise, and welcome to the channel. Last things first, I studied gemology in Thailand with AIGS, so it wasn't one particular book etc. This is a topic best studied with real samples on hand, which is why I also tend to encourage people to go in person to a gem market, rather than simply doing a correspondence/ distance study course. I have a few other videos on my channel about schools and rough gems. Its a long topic, so I won't just blather on here in the comments because a satisfactory answer wouldn't be possible. What I can say is that learning about gemstones is a lot like making friends. You have to learn their characteristics in order to know who they are, and once you do, you often recognize them frighteningly quickly. Best of luck to you in your journey~
Hi Peter, Happy New Year. You are my first sub for 2024. I like to purchase a polariscope any ideas or recommendations? What kind ? Please let me know 🙏 Thx
Welcome to the channel, and Happy New Year to you. If you're planning to use it in an office setting, I enjoy the type of polariscope that you see in my videos (link below). These are much more convenient than the small "field" polariscopes. Most of them seem to be quite similar, but I dive into the specifics on how to use the polariscope in another video. The only things to be careful about are to make sure that the top polarizing filter can be rotated, and that it includes conoscope (small magnifying glass) or a small glass rod with an orb on the end to act as a lens. ua-cam.com/video/n4qVsDnpcYY/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/A6vOHbM6TYs/v-deo.htmlsi=nx_G_wGgiCYncmul
Really enjoy your videos Peter. Does this work on lab/created stones or are the properties too similar to the natural stones? Keep up your informative and delightful vids.
Thank you, and glad you enjoy my work. As to synthetics, they have the same chemical and physical properties as earth mined stones, so this technique will work on them, yes, but it will not distinguish synthetic from natural.
Hey Peter, when I saw the title to this video; I thought you were going to use Google Lens to identify stones 😱. Yea utilising to polarised screen + polarised glasses is a neat tool. Thanks for putting it out there. Tbh I have tested Google Lens of some loose stones that I already knew the identity of, surprisingly it got Zultinite correct, but many results were incorrect. Great video, thanks, Rog.
Jeepers - can you imagine if I went and told "the internet" that they might possibly trust an app for gem ID? I imagine it would undo the past 3 years of work XD #allforgotten
@@GemologyforSchmucks indeed Peter. Never trust an App. Most of the time it’s wrong as it just compares the image to a database; and who is to say that the database is correct. Yea, rely on your eyes and tried and tested equipment.
@@GemologyforSchmucks It could work if it described the observation correctly. Most tests only tell us what something is not. Like a diamond tester doesn't show something is a diamond, it shows it conducts heat like a diamond. If the app is to go by visuals only it could list all possible candidate gems for the observed color each with a percentage of gems of that type having that color. It could tell with great certainty that something is not a ruby. haha
@@gabydewilde If a phone's camera was able to reliably recognize whether or not a stone was splitting light (doubly refractive), that would definitely be a step in the right direction. Until that hurdle is crossed, I think skepticism of apps is the safer approach.
@@GemologyforSchmucks When I go to gem shows as serious buyer, I carry a satchel of basic test equipt. I try not too be insulting to the seller. I'll preform a few neat tricks for other patrons. IE neodymium magnets & garnets, UV light etc.. It gets ppl intrested they buy too. This is a cool back up. Thank you.
For alluvial (river pebbles) it is likely useful, yes. The normal issues with a standard polariscope are relevant here. Heavily cracked or included stones don't work well. Clean stones with a smooth surface tend to work better.
Hello Nelson! Would you please make a video about Synthetic Moissanite? A lot of Diamond dealers (both natural and Synthetic) including James Allen have posted Moissanite gems as “natural Moissanite” on their pages. While Moissanite is a recognized mineral species and exists in nature as 120 polytypes… (6H-hexagonal most prevalent in upper mantlerock) the natural material is too smalll to do anything with it. All faceted material is man-made. This is misleading, can you please make a vid on it?
Happy New Year to you ~ the short answer is - 1st: as far as i am aware, you are correct in this situation where the object in the market is "synthetic moissanite" and I would expect any substantial pieces of natural moissanite to be sung about like holy unicorns on the top of mount Olympus. I've heard no such songs. Secondly, i'd like to do make a video as you described, as long as I find the right specimens to make that video. Let's see who I can meet in this new year.
![How do you KNOW what a gem is? [Refractometer Tutorial]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/egpxFVwtNRo/mqdefault.jpg)
![How do you KNOW what a gem is? [Refractometer Tutorial]](/img/tr.png)
Hi, I don't normally comment on stuff, but I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the videos you've been making!
I appreciate you making the exception this time ^_^
Thanks Peter, this should come in handy when i venture to the mines to start buying. And in a trade where ignorance and deception are second nature and unforgiving ,such practical tips are priceless....Thanks again man.
Thanks for your kind words - hopefully this technique assists you.
Worked well. Tried it on 2 emeralds, and a sapphire. Even with the emeralds being basically opaque, I could see a distinct blinking when I spun it in different directions.
Glad you gave it a try. Nothing quite like first hand experience to anchor a technique
@@GemologyforSchmucksAbsolutely true. Makes me feel much more confident.
Great idea! That sure makes a nice portable polariscope!
Thanks - keep it in mind the next time you're in the field.
Very useful, Peter- Thanks!
Cheers~
I enjoy watching your videos so much! Thank you!!🦋
I'm glad to have been of service~
Peter, I LOVE your episodes on identifying gemstones.
Another very helpful video, Peter ❤. In "The Crown" there's a scene where Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Denmark and Greece, now a Nun in Greece, attempts to raise funds by selling her huge Ceylon sapphire surrounded by diamonds. The pawn shop "jeweler", tells the elderly nun no real sapphire is that large. She doesn't argue, but confidently replies, "Test it."
Pawn dealer then gets what appears to be a regular pair of glasses and carefully examines the jewel. As he begins to see it may be authentic he takes the sapphire, holds it near his mouth and exhales on it. I am just wondering what information the "technique of exhaling on the stone" was supposed to reveal?
(The Crown, Season 3, Episode 3 or 4, called "Bubbikins" approx.10 minutes into episode.)
Thank you~ and i'm glad you're enjoying my work. I should probably do a video on popular BS myths of the gem world. Breathing on a stone doesn't provide definitive information that can be relied on for gem ID. CERTAINLY wouldn't distinguish between natural and synthetic, the latter of which was already invented by that time.
You are awesome 🤩 , I love your channel. So much to learn in the world of gemstones 💎!
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thanks very much~ and yes! Gemstones are an endless frontier. There is always deeper to go in these waters.
Cool video. 😎 👍
Thank you ~
A great idea
Thanks Martin~
legend, makin it easy for the layman.
Cheers~ doing what I can to make this space a bit less opaque.
Thanks
Glad to be of service~
Dude, you are doing great work for the gem stone community. I subscribed and look forward to more videos.
Before i go binge diving your your YT catalog, did you ever make a video about stones being heat treated to be disguised as others? Also what app or book did you use/study to help identify raw stones before polishing/tumbled.
Congrats on all your success, and thank you for being you.
Thank you for your high praise, and welcome to the channel.
Last things first, I studied gemology in Thailand with AIGS, so it wasn't one particular book etc. This is a topic best studied with real samples on hand, which is why I also tend to encourage people to go in person to a gem market, rather than simply doing a correspondence/ distance study course. I have a few other videos on my channel about schools and rough gems. Its a long topic, so I won't just blather on here in the comments because a satisfactory answer wouldn't be possible. What I can say is that learning about gemstones is a lot like making friends. You have to learn their characteristics in order to know who they are, and once you do, you often recognize them frighteningly quickly.
Best of luck to you in your journey~
@GemologyforSchmucks wow, even your responses are epic... Cheers and thank you!
Ooo sweet tip, thanks!
Happy to hear it is helpful, cheers.
Hi Peter,
Happy New Year.
You are my first sub for 2024.
I like to purchase a polariscope any ideas or recommendations? What kind ? Please let me know 🙏
Thx
Welcome to the channel, and Happy New Year to you. If you're planning to use it in an office setting, I enjoy the type of polariscope that you see in my videos (link below). These are much more convenient than the small "field" polariscopes. Most of them seem to be quite similar, but I dive into the specifics on how to use the polariscope in another video.
The only things to be careful about are to make sure that the top polarizing filter can be rotated, and that it includes conoscope (small magnifying glass) or a small glass rod with an orb on the end to act as a lens.
ua-cam.com/video/n4qVsDnpcYY/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/A6vOHbM6TYs/v-deo.htmlsi=nx_G_wGgiCYncmul
Thank you
Really enjoy your videos Peter. Does this work on lab/created stones or are the properties too similar to the natural stones? Keep up your informative and delightful vids.
Thank you, and glad you enjoy my work. As to synthetics, they have the same chemical and physical properties as earth mined stones, so this technique will work on them, yes, but it will not distinguish synthetic from natural.
Great! Big Fan from India 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it~
Hi,
Great you make new uploads.
Looking forward to see more !
Sayonara 👋😄
Thanks~ and keep your eyes peeled.
Hey Peter, when I saw the title to this video; I thought you were going to use Google Lens to identify stones 😱. Yea utilising to polarised screen + polarised glasses is a neat tool. Thanks for putting it out there. Tbh I have tested Google Lens of some loose stones that I already knew the identity of, surprisingly it got Zultinite correct, but many results were incorrect.
Great video, thanks, Rog.
Jeepers - can you imagine if I went and told "the internet" that they might possibly trust an app for gem ID? I imagine it would undo the past 3 years of work XD #allforgotten
@@GemologyforSchmucks indeed Peter. Never trust an App. Most of the time it’s wrong as it just compares the image to a database; and who is to say that the database is correct. Yea, rely on your eyes and tried and tested equipment.
@@GemologyforSchmucks It could work if it described the observation correctly. Most tests only tell us what something is not. Like a diamond tester doesn't show something is a diamond, it shows it conducts heat like a diamond. If the app is to go by visuals only it could list all possible candidate gems for the observed color each with a percentage of gems of that type having that color. It could tell with great certainty that something is not a ruby. haha
@@gabydewilde If a phone's camera was able to reliably recognize whether or not a stone was splitting light (doubly refractive), that would definitely be a step in the right direction. Until that hurdle is crossed, I think skepticism of apps is the safer approach.
Good stuff.
Thanks very much~
@@GemologyforSchmucks very welcome. You guys are the s***. I wouldn't have a clue what I was doing otherwise. We're gonna eat yaki together one day 👍🏼
thank you
My pleasure, Jane~
Now i have a reason to wear my ray ban aviators inside, thank you.
Keepin' it classy. "WHAT?! I'm just ALWAYS ready to ID gemstones, ok guys!?"
Hello my fellow Schmuck, welcome to the comment section
A warm welcome, indeed!
Helps a lot, thanks ❤😊
Glad to be of service~
Interesting. I have a portable polariscope. But have forgotten to pack it going to gem shows.
Always good to have an EDC backup when it doesn't take up extra space eh?
@@GemologyforSchmucks When I go to gem shows as serious buyer, I carry a satchel of basic test equipt. I try not too be insulting to the seller. I'll preform a few neat tricks for other patrons. IE neodymium magnets & garnets, UV light etc.. It gets ppl intrested they buy too.
This is a cool back up. Thank you.
Can I test spessartite garnets with that?
It could be a step to eliminate some of the other orange options, (sapphire for example) sure.
Does this work for rough gems?
For alluvial (river pebbles) it is likely useful, yes. The normal issues with a standard polariscope are relevant here. Heavily cracked or included stones don't work well. Clean stones with a smooth surface tend to work better.
Where do you get the scope?
The Zeiss loupe? there are many sellers online, or if you were in Bangkok, there are a few jewelry tool shops that also carry gemological instruments.
Hello Nelson!
Would you please make a video about Synthetic Moissanite? A lot of Diamond dealers (both natural and Synthetic) including James Allen have posted Moissanite gems as “natural Moissanite” on their pages. While Moissanite is a recognized mineral species and exists in nature as 120 polytypes… (6H-hexagonal most prevalent in upper mantlerock) the natural material is too smalll to do anything with it. All faceted material is man-made. This is misleading, can you please make a vid on it?
Happy New Year to you ~ the short answer is - 1st: as far as i am aware, you are correct in this situation where the object in the market is "synthetic moissanite" and I would expect any substantial pieces of natural moissanite to be sung about like holy unicorns on the top of mount Olympus. I've heard no such songs. Secondly, i'd like to do make a video as you described, as long as I find the right specimens to make that video. Let's see who I can meet in this new year.
I hit like😁
I'm glad you did ~ cheers