Gemological tool
Refractometer
Measures refractive index, the backbone of gem identification
Typical price$ 80 - 500
PortabilityModerately portable
Field notePortable, needs flat surface
How to use it
- Place one small drop of contact liquid (RI ~1.80) on the hemicylinder
- Lay a polished flat facet directly onto the hemicylinder
- Look through the eyepiece toward a bright white light
- Read where the shadow edge falls on the scale, this is the RI
- Rotate the stone 90° and read again, if different, record both values
- Birefringence = higher reading minus lower reading
- Compare results to gem reference tables