Whether you’re a devoted collector of precious gemstones or you’re simply looking for ways to make money on the side of your day job, investing in commodities can be incredibly lucrative for those looking to make a profit.

Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, as well as other gemstones, are renowned for holding their value – so investing in these can be a great way to build up your assets.

But how can you depict the real ones from the counterfeit products?

In this article, we look at how to identify true gemstones.

Having the right tools

Identifying gemstones isn’t always an easy task – especially with so many good fake ones out there. In order to properly identify the authenticity of any gemstone, you’ll need the right tools for the job.

These include the following:

• Tweezers – for carefully handling the stone in question
• A magnifier or loupe – for enlarging the stone so that you can properly inspect its texture
• A light source – to adequately see what you’re doing during the inspection

There are many other additional items you can opt for, such as a cleaning kit, however the above are the three main staples you’ll need to conduct your examination

Steps to take during an inspection

With such any precious stone, it’s vital that you take the correct precautions so as not to damage it or affect the condition it’s in. Before you begin your inspection, you may wish to wear gloves to avoid any fingerprints transferring onto the gemstone. It’s also a good idea to gently wipe the stone down with a damp cloth – this will help to reveal its true colour, ridding it of any dust particles. Always use the tweezers where possible to handle the stone – these should be point-edged to make as little contact as possible with it.

Identification by colour

Many professional jewellers and collectors believe that it’s best to examine a gemstone with the naked eye to identify its true quality and status. However, sometimes you may need to use a magnifier which are available from companies such as RS, in order to spy the finer details more adequately.

It’s important to consider the colour of a gemstone when depicting whether or not it is indeed authentic. This includes its hue, tone, and saturation. At this initial point, it’s important not to shine any artificial light through the stone. The hue is the overall body of colour. The tone is the depth of colour and opacity. The saturation equates to the intensity of the colour – for example with a ruby, is it a dull pinkish colour or a rich crimson? Warm-coloured stones typically have a brown undertone, while cool-coloured gemstones have a grey undertone.