All that glitters
Gemology o…ers aspirants a chance to learn about and work with rare gemstones and a range of career options in a niche †eld
ewellery in India is as steeped in tradition and culture as everything else. The country has a rich history of gem trade and was the original home of renowned gemstones such as the Hope Diamond and Koh-i-noor which were mined from Golconda in today’s Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. History records the presence of gem traders and gemologists in royal courts who looked after precious stones, estimated their value and identied fakes and imitations. Today, this is known as Gemology.
JWhat is gemology?
This is a scientic discipline that involves a comprehensive analysis and understanding of various facets related to gemstones, ranging from chemical composition to physical characteristics. A gemologist employs specialised equipment to examine and analyse these properties to determine a gemstone’s type, origin, treatments, and authenticity.
For example, an untrained individual might mistake a red stone for a ruby, but a gemologist will observe how light interacts with it to identify it as such. Through the phenomenon of double refraction in rubies, where light splits into distinct orangey-red and purplish-red colours, gemologists can distinguish them from red spinels and garnets, which maintain a consistent colour.
Over time, there has been a notable surge in treatments and laboratorygrown gems, especially from the mid-1970s. From heat-treated sapphires to laser-drilled diamonds and laboratory-grown rubies, the variety expanded as demand soared. Therefore, the need to identify genuine gemstones also increased. This requires powerful tools to examine the material at high magnication, documenting properties, chemical composition, spectral features and more. A gemologist does not have room to make mistakes, just like a pilot of an aeroplane has no mar