The Pocket Spectroscope: A Quick Guide for Gemologists
An inexpensive pocket spectroscope can be great for student gemologists as well as pros who need to identify gems while traveling. Learn the basics here.
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Why?There's another bit of kit that this tool seems to fit into. It's a black plastic contraption. At the top is a hole and another piece of plastic that turns around. This plastic piece has varying sizes of holes around the top.
I hope my description isn't too vague. Can you help me identify what this is and how to use it correctly?
Answer: I recognize this device. It's a pocket spectroscope and stand made by Orwin Products Ltd. The spectroscope is used in many fields, from astronomy to industry and also gemology. Portable models are very useful.
What Can a Portable Spectroscope Do?
Gemologists use spectroscopes to see a gem's absorption spectrum. Learning how a gemstone interacts with light is a key step to identifying it. This can even indicate if the stone is natural or synthetic. An inexpensive pocket spectroscope is useful for aspiring students as well as professional gemologists who need to identify specimens, including rough, while away from their labs.
How to Use a Portable Spectroscope
The spectroscope is a fundamental tool for gemologists. To use a portable spectroscope, line up these things in this order: light source, stone specimen, the instrument, and your eye. To interpret what you're seeing, you'll need to review the basics of spectroscope operation and gemstone identification.
The black contraption is a stand to help you hold stones of various sizes over the opening. There are some tricks to using this.
First, everything has to be held VERY still. Most people prefer using a stand or mount rather than trying to hold the instrument in their hands. (There are even adapters for mounting a pocket spectroscope in a microscope).
Second, you need a lot of light. It takes practice to get enough light through the stone and into the pocket spectroscope to be able to read it. You'll find the OPL pocket spectroscope isn't useful for dark stones. Start practicing with something light and one carat or above.
Best wishes,
Donald Clark, CSM IMG
Portable Spectroscope Recommendations
Photo | Name | Top Reviews on Amazon |
Eisco Labs Economy Spectroscope Tube, | " | |
Gain Express Pocket Diffraction Grating Gemological Spectroscope | ||
Radical Focusable DVS 5 Prism Spectroscope | "It corresponds to the middle spectrascope shown in Liddicoats Gem Book. The instrument is hefty, sturdy and well made. It is made in India and comes in a padded wooden box. They ship DHL with a signature required. Well packaged and safely shipped."read more | |
EISCO Premium Quantitative Spectroscope, +/- 5nm Accuracy | "This unit works extremely well. I was very impressed with the price/performance point. I have seen units for 6X-10X the price of this unit that did not perform as well. Both the spectrum and scale are well lit and easy to read. With a minor bit of tweaking the collimating slit size could be modified to give and even crisper spectrum." read more |
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