What is Gemmology & what does a Gemmologist do?
What is gemmology & what does a gemmologist do?
Gemmology is the study of gemstones from their origins, whether natural or manmade, through to their use in jewellery. This includes their formation (within the Earth, laboratory, factory or farm), mining or manufacture, cutting & polishing, treating them to improve their colour, clarity or durability & the creation of materials which imitate natural gemstones.
Gemmologists also need to keep up to date with the latest treatments, synthetic & imitation stones as they appear on the market.
This in-depth study allows gemmologists to identify gemstones & their treatments, using gemmological instruments or referring a gemstone to a gemmological laboratory for further testing if necessary.
There are around 200 gem species, each of which may have a number of different varieties. For example, Beryl is a species of gemstone which includes the varieties emerald, aquamarine, heliodor, morganite & goshenite. As you can see, this multiplies up to a large number of different natural gemstones!
Why is what gemmologists do important to consumers?
There are a number of reasons – the correct identification of a gemstone ensures the appropriate price is paid & the gemstone is suitable has the expected durability. No one would want to pay £1000 for a natural blue sapphire only to discover it was blue glass, cubic zirconia, synthetic (manmade) sapphire or kyanite, all worth considerably less & far less durable.
Equally, no one would want to buy a ruby or sapphire only to later discover it has been glass filled with perhaps up to 40% of the gem being glass. Again, this is not just a financial concern but also a durability one too.
Is a gemmologist a person who cut gemstones?
Gemmologist is not the name for someone who cuts & polishes gemstones.
A Lapidary cuts & polishes coloured gemstones (& yes, this term does include colourless gemstones other than diamonds too) while a Diamond Cutter cuts & polishes diamonds of any colour.
The reason for the difference is while the process may be similar, diamond’s physical properties require specialist equipment & an in-depth knowledge of the peculiarities of this interesting gemstone.
Lapidaries need to understand the various physical characteristics of all the different coloured gemstones they cut. Both professions are extremely skilled craftspeople.