Columbia Willamette Faceters Guild » Gemology

Overview Gemological Equipment

Kathryn — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:07:47 +0000

With the dizzying array of equipment available, Your Gemologist has a nice write-up explaining a bit about what many of the various gemstone identification tools do and why they do it. This equipment is used by both gemologists and faceters.

What equipment do you use? Did you teach yourself?

Where to Learn Gemology

Where to Learn Gemology

Kathryn — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:02:19 +0000

A few sources for gemology education include the International School of Gemology (more expensive) and IGS, International Gem Society (less expensive). I have not attended either so only cite what I found online but both look interesting.

Also check out Your Gemologist (warning, it has audio that plays no matter what, so turn down your speakers — I turn mine completely off). This site features tons of information on properties of individual minerals, gemstones, and much more.

I found on the late Jeff’s Graham’s site that his opinion was the money you’d spend at a course could be better spent buying equipment and teaching yourself. He may be right but you’d need to be the sort that really can self- teach so you don’t just buy equipment then put in on a shelf for when you get a round-to-it. Read what Graham had to say on the subject and if you have an opinion, please send it in, or post a comment!

Free Gemology Course

Kathryn — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:14:10 +0000

If you are interested in faceting you may already have an interest in gemstones or rocks in general (most of us do). But where do you go when you’d like to get a bit more in-depth education? One great online resource is Barbara Smigel’s free Gemology Course offered through CSN (College of Southern Nevada). The entire course content is online and available for anyone at no cost, and it is also available for credit for a fee through the college.

Smigel’s site provides answers when one might ask, “Are you Interested in Gemstones?” She answers these questions about gemstones:

How do they form?
Why do they shine?
What sets value in a gem?
How can you spot a simulant or synthetic?
What creates a cat’s eye or star in a gem?
How can you tell one red gemstone like ruby from another like garnet or piece of red glass?
Which gems are best for jewelry and why?
Where and how are gems mined?
How are they cut and polished?
What is the toughest gemstone (no, not diamond)?
and What the Heck are These?

You’ll spend countless hours learning at Barbara’s site and maybe even developing a lifelong passion for gemstones! You may also run into Barbara at the Gemology Online forum. I’ve read many posts by Barbara there in the Lapidary forum.

Where to Learn Gemology