At Baokha we believe that an in-house gem laboratory is an integral part of a jewelry business.

Our GIA graduate gemologist uses the gem laboratory for:

selecting stones for our custom-designed jewelry, as well as to keep
strict standards in quality control and inventory selection

checking merchandise ordered from our jewelry manufacturers

looking over jewelry items that are submitted for repairs

completing jewelry appraisal analyses

providing professional and dependable customer assistance

Our gem laboratory is equipped with the following instruments ranging from basic to sophisticated uses and features:

Gemolite Ultima B This stereoscopic microscope offers an incredible zoom range of 10x to 70x and a built-in overhead light for fast and easy identification and evaluation of precious stones. Equipped with advanced balanced visual response optics, the Gemolite Ultima B provides the truest color rendition and enhanced contrast of gemstones. (SEE PHOTO ON LEFT)

Refractometer measures birefringence and the refractive index of most gems that have refractive indices (RI) between 1.34 and 1.69. The RI of diamonds and most diamond imitations are over the limits of the refractometer. This jewelry instrument is essential for Baokha Fine Jewelry as we buy, sell, and appraise colored stones; it is the best source for fast and accurate RI readings on faceted as well as cabbed or carved stones in loose and mounted settings.

Diamondlite The Diamondlite simulates daylight needed for accurate color viewing of diamonds and colored stones.

Chelsea Filter is often called the "emerald filter" because it helps to separate emeralds from other green stones. An emerald viewed through the filter appears red; other green gems do not. However, the Chelsea Filter cannot distinguish between synthetic emeralds and natural emeralds. Further lab testing is needed to do so.

ColorMaster Every season brings a new set of fashionable colors, that change with the colors of nature. The ColorMaster allows you to "create" a color through digital read-outs that use a numerical RGB (red-green-blue) system to tell you exactly how much of those three colors is mixed together. And you can re-create the same color by dialing the same setting into the ColorMaster. (SEE PHOTO ON RIGHT)

Presidium Gem Tester/Duotester Diamonds are extremely thermal conductive, which helps to distinguish them from Cubic Zirconia and other gemstones. First, this instrument uses thermal conductivity to analyze the stone, then it confirms the test by using a measurement of reflectivity. Even coated diamonds can be recognized quickly.

10-X Loupe is the most important instrument as it provides handheld magnification to help determine inclusions, refractions, and the general condition of a jewelry piece.

Calcite Dichroscope is used to simultaneously view a gem's pleochroic colors while identifying double refractive colored gems in order to distinguish between various gemstones of similar color.

Mettler Electronic Carat Scale is a high capacity scale that is fast and reliable in assisting the gemologist with the precise task of weighing gemstones in carats or precious metals in grams. The Mettler Scale has 14 different weight units. (SEE PHOTO ON LEFT)

Microscope, Polariscope Binocular microscopes show an item in 3-D, and they help to determine gem characteristics, gem size and location, and overall gem condition. A polariscope beams light through two polarizing filters to quickly determine whether a gem is singly or doubly refractive, which effectively separates many different gemstones. The polariscope is an efficient way of testing the optic character and the pleochroism of transparent or translucent gemstones, both in loose or mounted settings.

Leveridge Gauge/Pearl Gauge These tools have a large rounded dial and help to determine the dimensions of small gems. They are often used to analyze a gem's table percentage or pavillion depth (luster for pearls).

Fiberlite (Fiber Optic Lighting) is essential in identifying difficult gem materials, and in spotting surface breaks, scratches and stone weakness for damage reports. This instrument is also used for detecting synthetics and assembled stones. (SEE PHOTO ON RIGHT)

Ultraviolet Longwave/Shortwave Radiation Cabinet is used to analyze the fluorescence in diamonds and colored stones, and for helping to distinguish diamonds from simulants. It is also used for spotting dyes and oils in certain stones.


Proportionscope This instrument facilitates grading diamonds from 0.18 carats to 8.00 carats. By using a proportionscope, the diamond's enlarged silhouette is projected on an illuminated screen where its proportions can be compared to perfect measurements provided on the screen's background.
(SEE PHOTO ON LEFT)

Spectroscope The spectroscope has an advanced five-prism design that ensures reliable high performance. Each gem species and variety has a unique absorption spectra, and the spectroscope allows for distinguishing between different gem materials.

Specific Gravity Liquids The approximate specific gravity (SG) of a gem is determined by whether it floats or sinks (and if the latter, how fast it sinks) in a given liquid. This helps to identify loose gems.

 

For further questions or comments please call us at 703-893-0313, or come in and visit us at our store location in McLean, Virginia. Please click here to retrieve our address & driving directions.

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