Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD4 Slightly Purplish Red Gemstones 170308
Reference Gem Image 400nm. Spectrum 700nm.
Corundum
Doublet
( Unpolarised)
RDF0653
Corundum
Doublet
(ω ray)
RDF0653
Corundum
Doublet
(ε ray) RDF0653
Corundum
Doublet
(Scattered light)
RDF0653
Garnet Top
Doublet
RDF0999
Glass
RDF0380-1
Glass
"Triffari" brooch
JKH-W
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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD4 Slightly Purplish Red Gemstones 170308
Ruby
Verneuil synthetic
RDF0756-4
(Unpolarised)
Ruby
Verneuil synthetic
RDF0756-4
(ω ray)
Ruby
Verneuil synthetic
RDF0756-4
(ε ray)
Ruby
Verneuil synthetic
RDF0756-4
(Scattered light)
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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD4 Slightly Purplish Red Gemstones 170308
Comparison Notes
CORUNDUM DOUBLET (Unpolarised) Colour due to chromium. The
green sapphire crown on this doublet is too thin to play any part in the overall body colour in this stone and is not
detected in the spectrum. The result is a typical chromium spectrum from the synthetic ruby pavilion with the
fluorescence lines in the deep red and absorption lines in the blue. As no one light vibration has been polarized the
absorption band in the green is of moderate width. As in all chromium spectra the violet area is totally absorbed.
CORUNDUM DOUBLET (ω ray) As a
polarising filter is orientated to observe the o-ray, the stone appears slightly more purplish This dichroism is
evident in the spectrum where the central absorption band is now stronger and broader to cover more of the orange
and green areas. The fluorescing doublet is seen to strengthen in intensity and the lines in the blue appear a little
more vague.
CORUNDUM DOUBLET (ε ray) A
further rotation of the polarising filter will see the stone gradually become less purplish until, after 45 degrees, the
stone now appears a paler shade of red. The spectrum acts accordingly and the central absorption band has now
narrowed to allow more transmission of the orange and green. Other lines have also lost intensity and are less
sharp.
CORUNDUM DOUBLET (Fluorescence spectrum) As we
adjust the lighting to enhance the fluorescence in the red, the doublet at 694/693nm. dominates the spectrum
accompanied by two others at 668nm. and 659nm. Weak areas of green and blue seen here are due to a small
amount of light reflected from the facets of the stone entering the spectroscope.
GARNET TOP DOUBLET. Colour due to selenium
The red glass pavilion is responsible for the body colour as recorded in the resulting spectrum. The broad
absorption band in the green is of moderate width in keeping with the light purplish hue This extends a little further
to the shortwave side with additional absorption at 505nm. due to absorption by the garnet top.
GLASS. Colour due to colloidal gold and rare earth elements. The single
broad band in the green area due to colloidal gold and the addition of a rare earth element such as neodymium,
imparts a more convincing, slightly purplish red hue similar to ruby. This is due to a series of absorption lines in the
orange-yellow area and transmission of blue and violet to provides a ruby like colour in this material often referred
to as "Ruby Glass"
GLASS. Colour due to colloidal gold and rare earth elements. Early
20th.century costume jewellery such as this bird brooch by Triffari and Co. used a "Ruby glass" in which the
spectrum shows a marked separation between the rare earth lines and a narrower absorption band in the green.
This results in a slightly paler version of " Ruby Glass" as an imitation ruby.
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Gemstone Spectra Comparison RD4 Slightly Purplish Red Gemstones 170308
RUBY - VERNEUIL SYNTHETIC. (Unpolarised) Colour due to chromium.
Controlled supply of chromium oxide in the production of modern synthetic ruby can result in a more intense,
slightly purplish red stone. The resulting spectrum shows an intense dark absorption band centred at 550nm.
together with the usual features of the lines in the blue and the fluorescing doublet in the deep red. Other lines in
the red are difficult to detect without the use of a polarising filter. The violet is totally absorbed.
RUBY - VERNEUIL SYNTHETIC. (ω ray) When the
lighting is suitably adjusted the doublet at 693/694nm. can be seen as a dark absorption line. If only the o-ray ray is
observed this doublet will be seen at it's strongest together with finer lines at 668nm. and 659nm. The Broad
absorption now extends from 610nm. to 495nm. leaving a narrower window in which the absorption lines at 468nm.
and 475/476nm.. appear more intense, after which total absorption follows.
RUBY - VERNEUIL SYNTHETIC. (ε ray) As we
rotate the polarising filter and isolate the e-ray the stone becomes a paler shade of purplish red and variations occur
in the spectrum. The doublet in the red is less intense and the fine line in the red at 595nm. is present but the one at
668nm. seen in the o-ray is now absent. The main absorption band has become narrower and the blue area has
widened considerably to show the lines clearly before total absorption takes over.
RUBY - VERNEUIL SYNTHETIC. (Fluorescence spectrum) An
intense light source placed close to the stone and scattered from within it, can enter the spectroscope slit indirectly.
In this way a subdued spectrum is seen in which any fluorescence lines stand out against a dark background. In
the modern chromium rich, iron free, synt4etic ruby a spectacular group of fluorescing lines may be seen,
dominated by the intense doublet at 693/693nm.
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