Gemology

Over the years and through my education I’ve learned so much about different gemstones. I’ve compiled a group of images to help people know what to look for in a gemstone. Please take your time and look through these amazing magnified images I have been able to capture and read through the descriptions below. Knowledge is power!


Please note that these images are property (David Fouad Homsy) their use outside of my website is not allowed.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Ruby: In this image you will see curved growth Striae. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Ruby: In this image you will see curved growth Striae. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphire: You will see curved colored banding in this image. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphire: You will see curved colored banding in this image. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

Dyed Jadeite: In this image within the fracture "crack" you can see green dye color concentrations.

Dyed Jadeite: In this image within the fracture "crack" you can see green dye color concentrations.

Quench-Crackled Dyed Quartz: In this image you will see Quartz heated up then quickly cooled to create a cracked appearance to resemble emerald. Then the cracks/fractures are filled with green dye.

Quench-Crackled Dyed Quartz: In this image you will see Quartz heated up then quickly cooled to create a cracked appearance to resemble emerald. Then the cracks/fractures are filled with green dye.

Synthetic Turquoise: In this image you'll see tiny blue microspheres called "Cream of Wheat". As well as no recessed areas on gemstone surface.

Synthetic Turquoise: In this image you'll see tiny blue microspheres called "Cream of Wheat". As well as no recessed areas on gemstone surface.

Ever wonder what synthetic opal looks like up close? Take a look at this magnified picture I took! How can you tell it's synthetic and not natural? Well, look closely at the splotches of color. They almost always look like snake skin scales. Natural

Ever wonder what synthetic opal looks like up close? Take a look at this magnified picture I took! How can you tell it's synthetic and not natural? Well, look closely at the splotches of color. They almost always look like snake skin scales. Natural opal does not display this characteristic.

Flux-Grown Synthetic Emerald: In this image you'll see white, coarse and high relief wispy flux inclusions.

Flux-Grown Synthetic Emerald: In this image you'll see white, coarse and high relief wispy flux inclusions.

Lattice Diffusion Treated Corundum: In this image if you look directly at the facet junctions you can see a dark blue color concentration.

Lattice Diffusion Treated Corundum: In this image if you look directly at the facet junctions you can see a dark blue color concentration.

Cat's -Eye Glass: In this image if you look close you will see from the side on the gemstone long fibers that are hexagonal almost looking like a honey comb.

Cat's -Eye Glass: In this image if you look close you will see from the side on the gemstone long fibers that are hexagonal almost looking like a honey comb.

Ever wonder how to quickly tell what’s a diamond and what a CZ. We’ll flip the CZ on it’s back and allow for light to shine though. Do you see orange flashes? Then it’s a CZ!

Ever wonder how to quickly tell what’s a diamond and what a CZ. We’ll flip the CZ on it’s back and allow for light to shine though. Do you see orange flashes? Then it’s a CZ!

Amber: In this image you can see treated material heated with oil shows disc like fractures known as "Sun Spangles."

Amber: In this image you can see treated material heated with oil shows disc like fractures known as "Sun Spangles."

Hydrothermal Synthetic Emerald: In this image look close to see a wavy growth pattern.

Hydrothermal Synthetic Emerald: In this image look close to see a wavy growth pattern.

Flux-Grown Synthetic Emerald: In this image look close for uniform parallel growth planes known as "Venetian blind" effect.

Flux-Grown Synthetic Emerald: In this image look close for uniform parallel growth planes known as "Venetian blind" effect.

Sapphire: In this image you will see a natural sapphire that has been heat treated. You will notice a Discoid fracture indicating a heat tension break. This happens when an inclusion is heated up, it expands and causes a fracture.

Sapphire: In this image you will see a natural sapphire that has been heat treated. You will notice a Discoid fracture indicating a heat tension break. This happens when an inclusion is heated up, it expands and causes a fracture.

Flame- Fusion Synthetic Star Corundum: In this image you will see curved Striae, as you can see with my markings. As well as a perfect 6 ray star cabochon not common in natural star sapphire.

Flame- Fusion Synthetic Star Corundum: In this image you will see curved Striae, as you can see with my markings. As well as a perfect 6 ray star cabochon not common in natural star sapphire.

Synthetic Opal: In this image you can see a cellular pattern, that looks like snake skin.

Synthetic Opal: In this image you can see a cellular pattern, that looks like snake skin.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphire: You will see curved colored banding in this image. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

Flame-Fusion Synthetic Sapphire: You will see curved colored banding in this image. Indicating it's synthetic nature.

A feather is natural stress fracture in a diamond. Is a large feather like this bad? Many people say diamonds can't break. This is an untrue statement. Although diamonds are hard, they can break. At the right impact this feather can slice through the

A feather is natural stress fracture in a diamond. Is a large feather like this bad? Many people say diamonds can't break. This is an untrue statement. Although diamonds are hard, they can break. At the right impact this feather can slice through the rest of the diamond. So be careful what you look at and make sure the feather isn't too large or it could cost you later!

Laser Drilled Diamond! With almost 100 drill holes. These drill holes you will see as long tubes going directly to an inclusion. Then then the inclusion is removed, creating a visually more appealing gemstone. This is seen as a diamond treatment.

Laser Drilled Diamond! With almost 100 drill holes. These drill holes you will see as long tubes going directly to an inclusion. Then then the inclusion is removed, creating a visually more appealing gemstone. This is seen as a diamond treatment.

Yehuda treated diamond; take a close look at the rainbow flashes in this diamond. This enhancement is done by filling inclusions with glass and other materials to enhance clarity. It is common in the diamond trade!

Yehuda treated diamond; take a close look at the rainbow flashes in this diamond. This enhancement is done by filling inclusions with glass and other materials to enhance clarity. It is common in the diamond trade!

 

Gemology Videos on YouTube!

Have you ever wondered how gemstones are tested to figure out what type of gemstone species they are? Check out my YouTube channel, like and subscribe for more content!

DF HOMSYDIAMONDS YOUTUBE CHANNEL

 
 

Do you have a Rough stone?

Do you have a rough rock you would like Identify?

  1. If you have a rough rock you would like to identify I can do my best to help you. However, I am not a geologist.

  2. I work in semi transparent to transparent material.

  3. Please be advised identification by simply viewing the rough rock is not recommended. Tests must be performed to correctly identify what you may have found. Test’s such as acquiring a refractive Index (RI) of a stone.

I must add that I specialize in minerals. I rarely work with rough igneous rock, rough sedimentary rocks, or rough metamorphic rocks. Examples of rough Igneous rocks include; Granite, basalt, and pumice. Examples of rough Sedimentary rocks include; Sandstone, Shale, and limestone. Examples of rough Metamorphic rocks include; Marble, Schist, and Slate.