The gem identification process separates gemstones by a combination of eliminating options through positive test results. A gemstone needs, at minimum, three positive results. Some require additional testing.
To begin, I describe the color: hue, tone, and saturation. Pigeon's blood red, cornflower blue, and grass green may evoke pretty pictures, but they fail to describe the characteristics if a color in a scientific manner. For that, I turn to a special color wheel and two scales.
The color wheel provides a range of hues to compare my gem to:
Tone describes how light or dark a gem is.
Saturation describes how strong or weak the hue is.
The color description of this stone color can be parsed two ways: Medium dark, moderately strong, slightly yellowish green (tone, saturation, hue). Or, slyG 6/4 (hue tone/saturation).
Next time: transparency.
8 comments:
I really like that. If everyone used the same method, it would make it so much easier to buy things on the internet. Very interesting post; I'm looking forward to the follow up.
Great information, Andrea.
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
It would, wouldn't it?
The nice thing about the scientific notation is that two people who are familiar with the system can talk to one another and know exactly what colors are being discussed. One person's cornflower blue may be different from another's. Medium, vivid, violetish blue is exactly that.
Over the coming weeks I'll walk through the entire gem identification process and describe each test to the best of my ability.
Very interesting!
Great post Andrea. Color is one of the most difficult things to describe. There are so many interpretations. I appreciate a scientific basis for color names.
Thank you so very much
Great info!
Great info, thank you very much.
Great information, Andrea...thanks for sharing. I look forward to more in this series.
Post a Comment