Gem Identification with Magnetism

                                                  Magnetism in Gemstones
                                       An Effective Tool and Method for Gem Identification
                                                                                                 © Kirk Feral

Overview of Magnetism in Gemstones

Resources & Links

© Kirk Feral 2009, All Rights Reserved. These materials may be duplicated for educational purposes only. No part of this website may be duplicated or distributed for profit, for commercial purposes, or for posting to another website, without the expressed written consent of the copyright holder.

Readers are invited to post comments, or share results of their own gem testing using a magnetic wand, in the Blog section.

Click on this link to read on: Overview of Magnetism in Gemstones

The intent of this website is to further introduce the magnetic wand and testing method to gem hobbyists and gem professionals, and demonstrate how enjoyable, rewarding...and effective... magnetic testing can be. The information in this website can be used as supplemental course material for introductory gem identification classes. Gem ID course instructors and students may freely print and duplicate the materials copyrighted by this author.

The reference charts and research results provided in this website have not been published elsewhere. These materials were developed by this author using results of magnetic testing on private gem collections. The Magnetic Susceptibility Index is the first known attempt to provide both qualitative and quantitative measurements of the magnetic susceptibilities of all the primary gemstones.

The method of testing described in this website is absent from the curriculum of gemology classes taught by gemology institutes, universities and gem & mineral societies. Research on this method is scarce, and information on the practical applications of gemstone magnetism for colored stones is quite sparse in books, journals, and online. Magnetism is a measurable property of gemstones, yet it is conspicuously absent from compendiums and indexes of gems. To view some of the published papers by authors who have done innovative research on gemstone magnetism, click on Resources & Links.

In the last decade, a few researchers have published information about using rare-earth magnets for gem testing. The idea of a hand-held magnet as a gemology tool is not new, but for the most part, its practical value has been overlooked or dramatically underestimated. As of 2012, this powerful tool remains unknown to most gemologists, students, collectors, jewelers, and gem dealers.

This website provides information to help you get started using this tool, including: 1) an overview of magnetism in gemstones 2) how to use a magnet for gem identification 3) an index of magnetic responses for over 200 gemstone species and varieties, and 4) a reference chart for separating look-alike gems. A separate section on Garnet Magnetism provides an in-depth look at the world of Garnets.

If you collect, sell, or work with gems and need to know how to identify them, a magnet belongs in your set of standard testing tools, alongside your refractometer, polariscope, spectroscope and microscope. Once you start working with a magnet, you'll find it quickly becomes an essential part of your testing routine for all colored stones, as well as diamonds.

Among its multiple uses, a magnetic wand provides the quickest means for identifying Garnet. It can also be used to distinguish natural gems from synthetics and imitations. For example, natural Spinel can easily be distinguished from synthetic Spinel, and a parcel of Diamonds can quickly be scanned for synthetics. A magnet is an effective gem separator for many types of gems that look alike, such as Aquamarine and blue Topaz. And magnetic testing can serve as an important method to corroborate the test results of your other gemology tools.

A magnetic wand made with rare-earth materials is one of the most useful, and least known, tools for basic gem identification. An extremely sensitive instrument, it can be used to detect very slight magnetism in gems. It is small and portable, and simple to use. Unlike many other gemology tools, magnets are accessible to everyone. Wands can be easily assembled for just a few dollars.

Rhodolite Garnet

How is it Useful?

The Forgotten Tool

The Website

Aquamarine