Identifying synthetic emerald

[jcharles]

I posted on here before and got some very useful information on identifying synthetic corundum. I have now purchased what I was hoping to be a synthetic emerald. However, once again, the stone looks too good to be true. No visible inclusions under 45X microscope, barring small chips on the edges of the facets. It has absolutely no fluorescence, and although it''s hard to tell due to the cut, it appears to be singularly refractive. I''m guessing colored glass. Is there anything else I can look for, short of using special equipment or taking it to a gemologist?

 

[Richard Sherwood]

It's much harder to explain what to look for in conclusively identifying an emerald or synthetic emerald.

You might enjoy reading the book Gem Identification Made Easy by Antoinette Matlins and Antonio Bonanno. It tells you how to identify a good number of the gemstones you might run into with a few simple and inexpensive instruments.

http://www.gemstonepress.com/169.htm

 

[gemça]

Dear jcharles,

To do the difference between a flawless naturel emerald vs a flawless synthetics hydrothermal emerald , infrared spectroscopy could be used. (Lab equipment).
To do the difference between emeral or synthetic emeral vs emeral simulant, I think It is possible with standar gemological equipment like refractometer and/or spectroscope.

 

[pricescope]

Cher Gemca,
bienvenue au forum !
Nous apprécions toute l''entrée de chaque expert ; nous sommes heureux de vous avoir à bord.

http://www.geminterest.com

 

[gemça]

Merci beaucoup pour votre acceuil.
C''est un plaisir que d''être là!

Thank you for your great welcome.
It is a pleasure to be here.

I will try to do my possible to share in english.
Don''t esitate to correct me

 

[lonewoodminer]

Welcolme Gemca

Thanks for input to the forum. I have been speaking and writing English all my life and still have major problems with my spelling
so dont be worried at all just post away!

Cheers Andrew Lane
www.aussiesapphire.com.au

 

[samuelnng]

if u are already using 45x magnification,u should see bubbles.that''s the conclusive evidence that unfortunately for u it''s glass.cos chatsham synthetic emeralds will have ''inclusions'' and other telltale signs.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Date: 4/15/2005 5:13:57 PM
Author:jcharles
I posted on here before and got some very useful information on identifying synthetic corundum. I have now purchased what I was hoping to be a synthetic emerald. However, once again, the stone looks too good to be true. No visible inclusions under 45X microscope, barring small chips on the edges of the facets. It has absolutely no fluorescence, and although it's hard to tell due to the cut, it appears to be singularly refractive. I'm guessing colored glass. Is there anything else I can look for, short of using special equipment or taking it to a gemologist?

You would see bubbles in glass - Sounds like synthetic spinel or corundum (you could easily pick CZ).
What price per carat did you pay?
(and why do you want synthetic emeralds?)

Can you get an RI?
Do you have a chealsea filter?