How to Build a Home Gemology Laboratory

The thought of grading and identifying gems may seem truly daunting for beginners. Tools can be expensive and setting up a laboratory sounds like something best reserved for professionals. The truth, however, is that you don’t need to invest a fortune to have a gemology lab of your own. You will need to invest some money in tools, but there are ways to keep the costs to a minimum. Below is an outline of what you need to set up a gem lab. You may be surprised that this is easily within your reach!

The Basics

Both gems and lab equipment are small, so setting up a laboratory does not require a large area. In fact, a corner of a room is plenty of space. If you cannot dedicate a corner of your room, you could even use a desk, table, or bench that is normally used for other purposes.

Your lab equipment should be near at hand to make examining gems as quick and easy as possible. (See Tools of the Gemologist for more information.) They do not need to be permanently set up, just easily accessible, so storing them on a nearby shelf or in a cabinet works as well. You will also…