Advanced Instruments to Identify Gemstones

The need for more precise techniques for identification of gemstones, synthetics and enhancements has led to the usage of advanced and sophisticated equipment. Most of these techniques are based on the spectroscopic properties of gemstones. Though there are a number of different methods, almost all work on the same basic principle.

A comparitive look at the advanced techniques

Instrument Excitation Source Targeted Area Application
FT-IR Spectrometery Infra Red Beams Molecules and Atomic Groups Molecular Analysis
LRS Laser Beams Structural Bonding Molecular Analysis
UV-VIS-NIR Spectroscopy UV and Visible Light Electrons in the outer most shell Colouring agents and Chromophores
EDXRF Spectroscopy X-Rays Inner Electrons Chemical Identification
SEM Electrons Specimen Surface Composition