A Home Gemology Laboratory : the room requirements

How to Build a Home Gemology Laboratory : the Room requirements

The thought of grading and identifying gems may seem truly daunting for beginners. Tools can be expensive and setting up a laboratory sounds like something best reserved for professionals. The truth, however, is that you don't need to invest a fortune to have a gemology lab of your own. You will need to invest some money in tools, but there are ways to keep the costs to a minimum. Below is an outline of what you need to set up a gem lab. You may be surprised that this is easily within your reach!

The Basics

Both gems and lab equipment are small, so setting up a laboratory does not require a large area. In fact, a corner of a room is plenty of space. If you cannot dedicate a corner of your room, you could even use a desk, table, or bench that is normally used for other purposes.
Your lab equipment should be near at hand to make examining gems as quick and easy as possible. They do not need to be permanently set up, just easily accessible, so storing them on a nearby shelf or in a cabinet works as well. You will also need easy access to electrical outlets, so you may want to invest in a power strip. This can save you from having to bend over several times to plug in accessories.

Proper Lighting is one of the main important needs

Proper lighting is the single most important requirement in color grading gems. When selecting an area to serve as your lab, you need to think past just the light and consider the walls and surroundings as well. While blue walls or green curtains may be calm and soothing to you, these colors will make accurate readings impossible. Make sure your grading environment has white or neutral gray on all surfaces that reflect light.

A window is an absolute necessity for color grading. Ideally, it should be a north-facing window, but with cloud cover or shades, you can make due. What is important is that you are looking at the gem with indirect, natural light.

You can do most of your work with incandescent light, as it is close to natural. Fluorescent lights are the least desirable, as they lean strongly to the yellow end of the spectrum. Several of the gems you examine will give an artificial color under fluorescent light and create a serious problem with grading. If you have fluorescent lights in the room, it is best to turn them off and use a desk lamp for the majority of your work.

One of the most important considerations is the intensity of the light. If it is too bright, the colors will wash out and you will not be able to appreciate the subtle differences, so choose a low wattage light that will not strain your eyes and will help you detect the color differences in your gems.

Other lights are less effective. The so-called, daylight equivalent lights actually have a different balance of wavelengths than natural light. You cannot rely on them for accurate color change results. You must use a combination of natural and incandescent light to ensure proper identification.

The above relates primarily to color grading gems. For examination purposes, an incandescent light of moderate intensity is sufficient. A light with a flexible arm, so you can move it where you want it, is a big asset.