Gemstone Identifier

How to Identify Gemstones?

Identifying a gemstone is a process of elimination: you start with everything a stone could be and narrow the suspects down by reading a handful of observable clues. The good news is that the first few clues require nothing but your eyes and good light, which is exactly why a clear photo can already get you most of the way to an answer.

Is Your Gemstone Real, Valuable, or Precious?

Gemstones are traditionally divided into precious and semi-precious. The four precious gems — diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald — have historically been the rarest and most coveted, while semi-precious stones such as amethyst, citrine, garnet, topaz, peridot, aquamarine and tourmaline are more abundant and generally more affordable.

How to Photograph a Gemstone for Accurate Identification?

A good photo is the difference between a confident identification and a guess. The single most important factor is light: use bright, natural, diffused daylight near a window, and avoid direct sun, which blows out color, and indoor bulbs, which cast yellow or blue tints. Never use your phone's flash — it flattens the stone, hides inclusions and creates harsh hotspots.

Did you know?

Rubies and sapphires are the exact same mineral — corundum. The only difference is a trace of chromium, which turns the stone red and earns it the name ruby; every other color of gem-quality corundum is simply called sapphire.