Rich, opinion on torching colored gems?

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

It is a practice oft used by rough gem dealers - they carry a small penlight torch and place the gem on top of the lamp.

This enables you to very easily spot flaws / inclusions, even with your naked eye.

Do you see any advantage to this approach Rich?

 

[valeria101]

Is it rude to ask for this from a seller?

I do carry a pen light for jade... since it is hard to tell much about the translucent pieces in normal lighting, at least for one lacking extensive practice (= myself). If this is looks foolish I must be famous for it by now!

It does feel a bit awkward, regardless. Somehow, I came to know the little torch used as some silly marketing tool... an argument for either: #1 asking for a discount on otherwise invisible inclusions/imperfections or #2 presenting clean but unapealing stones as great.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

I carry a powerful LED penlight on me at all times just for the purpose you describe Garry. Lights the whole interior of the stone up, making inclusions, color zoning, everything much easier to see.

Probably a couple dozen Sarasota dealers have gone out and bought the same penlight after having me demonstrate it to them. It's called a Streamlight Stylus, and can be found at this site:

http://www.copquest.com/10-2270.htm

The police carry them as a backup light source. You'll be amazed how powerful they are for being so compact.