Optical Properties of Gems

Luminescence incorporates a gemstone's ability to emit visible light in darkness when exposed to ultraviolet light (fluorescence, named after flourite, the predominant flourescent gemstone), and in the case of kunzite, to produce an "afterglow" which lingers after the light has ceased (phosphorescence).

The lustre or brilliance of transparent gems is caused by light reflecting from the stone's surface. The smoother and more highly polished the surface is, the greater the lustre will be. High light refractivity of a gem will cause greater lustre as well. The most intensive lustre is seen in the highest refractive indices, diamond, zircon, and rutile, and is known as an adamantine lustre. Hematite produces a mettalic luster, even though it is not transparent. Most gemstones have a vitreous or glassy lustre, but there are other types of lustres, including resinous (amber), greasy (serpentine), waxy (turquoise), pearly (rhodonite), and silky (tiger's eye).

Refraction is the bouncing around of light from the greater part of the light ray which hits the gemstone and passes into the stone. As it enters the denser medium of the gem, the light bends and the amount of bending or light refraction produces a measurable index (refractive index), which is often used to help identify a gemstone. When light hitting a gemstone splits into two rays traveling through the stone at different speeds and in different directions, the reaction is called birefringence or double refaction. This is seen uncommonly and in a variety of calcite called Iceland Spar as well as zircon, rutile, and sphene.

The separation of light into its separate colors is called dispersion. Gemstones with the highest light refraction typically show the highest dispersion rate as well (rutile, sphene, diamond, zircon). This color dispersion or fire can be enhanced by a gem cutter if he uses an appropriate cut.

Color changes which are evident when viewed from different angles in gemstones (iolite, alexandrite, andalusite) is called pleochroism. It is very important for the gem cutter to cut a pleochroic stone properly in order to show off the different colors. Ruby and sapphire have two color shades and are pleochroic; in ruby, for example, yellow-red and purplish-red, which distinguishes it from garnet and red spinel, which have no pleochroicism. Iolite displays lavender-blue, grey, and pale yellow when viewed from different angles.

Luminescence incorporates a gemstone's ability to emit visible light in darkness when exposed to ultraviolet light (fluorescence, named after fluorite, the predominant fluorescent gemstone), and in the case of kunzite, to produce an "afterglow" which lingers after the light has ceased (phosphorescence).

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