What gemstones are in this ring?

I received this question from the owner of the ring. Before I started my gemology studies, I would have immediately answered: Garnets. What else could it be? The beautiful dark red gemstone you often find in a ring. Now that I know better, I want to test the gemstone in question before I give her an answer. Because it could be glass, synthetic garnet (YAG), or even something completely different. I start by examining the gemstone under the microscope, and then it goes on the refractometer. Glass and YAG contain gas bubbles, and natural garnet often contains inclusions that resemble small needles and crystals. These inclusions are indications that the gemstone in question was formed by nature and not in a laboratory.

In addition to examining the gemstone under the microscope, I measure its refractive index on the refractometer. The refractive index tells a lot about what gemstone it could be. I read a single refractive index of 1.790. This does not fit glass or YAG but does fit almandine garnet. The refractive index and inclusions in this case rule out glass and YAG. Good news for the owner of this ring.

Do you also want to know which gemstone is in your ring? Please contact us by e-mail: laetitia@kiliaanjewelry.nl.

Laetitia

Graduate Gemologist (GG) Gemological Institute of America