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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;drg642, post: 4255673, member: 74&quot;]So, I have been watching a few you-tube videos, and I had a long chat with a knowledgeable person at Kassoy.&nbsp; I will share what I have learned.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reading of the shadow lines on a traditional refractometer seems like it could be difficult, especially with mounted gems.&nbsp; I asked the guy at Kassoy the difference between the $100, $500, and $1200 refractometers, and he said mainly it was the clarity and ease of reading these shadow lines.&nbsp; I am not very nimble with this sort of thing, and I do question my ability to use this instrument in a way where I would feel confident with the results.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Kassoy guy suggested I consider the Gem-n-Eye Digital Refractometer.&nbsp; You put the stone on the sensor, and the machine gives you an RI reading and 1 or more possible stone IDs.&nbsp; After looking into it, the machine is not really reading the refractive index, but rather reflectivity, which gives readings very close to the refractive index.&nbsp; As Ce BCA noted, the problem is, several stones will have similar reflectivity readings.&nbsp; With a traditional refractometer, as I understand it, the difference between the high and low readings on a doubly refractive stone will enable a positive ID, but the digital refractometer doesn&#039;t measure this. </p><p>I think in combination with my Presidium and what I can see about the stone color that I could sometimes get an accurate ID.&nbsp; For example, the Gem-n-Eye could give a reading of 1.698 and say that the stone is peridot or tanzanite.&nbsp; The presidium reading and the color of the stone would make this pretty easy to distinguish between peridot and tanzanite.&nbsp; Others would not be so clear cut.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, sorry to be so lengthy.&nbsp; My conclusion is that I don&#039;t know if I will buy either a traditional or digital refractometer.&nbsp; Still pondering if I could learn how to use a traditional refractometer with any confidence, or if the digital instrument would produce enough information to make many positive IDs.&nbsp; Both seem difficult to use with mounted gems, thought the digital one I think would be better in this area.&nbsp; The Kassoy guy did say that while they don&#039;t like to take returns, they would allow a return if I tried the Gen-n-Eye and didn&#039;t find it useful.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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