The journey of KARATZ jewels from purchase to auction

Gemstones dug up in various countries around the world undergo various processes such as heat treatment and polishing before being sold on the market.
During this process, it is rare that different gemstones, glass, etc. may get mixed in.
There are also cases where other gemstones are deliberately passed off as more expensive gemstones and sold.

For this reason, at Caratz, we always appraise the gems we purchase and afterwards to confirm that they are the ones we purchased before selling them.
Let us take a look at the journey that Caratz gemstones take from purchase to auction.

Purchase

Buyers who are qualified gemologists select the stones by performing a simple appraisal on each stone.

-Equipment used in simple identification and its features

10x Magnifying Glass

Using a 10x loupe, we check the gemstone for scratches or chips on its surface, inclusions that mar its appearance, and characteristics of synthetic stones, glass, or gemstones that have been treated to reduce their value.

Dichroic mirror

It is used to check the strength of pleochroism, color, etc. It is also used to check whether there is any difference between the gemstone name and the name written on the label based on the presence or absence of pleochroism and the color.

Chelsea Color Filter

This is a color filter that transmits deep red and yellow-green wavelengths, and is primarily used to distinguish between stones of the same color.
Originally developed to identify emeralds, it is commonly used for green, red, and blue gemstones.

Penlight

For gemstones with optical effects such as star effect, cat's eye effect, play of color, etc., a white penlight is used to check the appearance and strength of the effects.
For gemstones that have a color-changing effect, shine a white penlight and an orange penlight alternately to see the change in color and its intensity.
In some cases, shining light on a gemstone can change its atmosphere or bring out its unique characteristics and charm, so we also check this.

Black light

We check the presence or absence of fluorescence, its strength, color, etc. We also check whether the name of the gemstone listed based on the presence or absence of fluorescence and its color is correct.

Appraisal

After returning to the office, we will carry out a more detailed inspection using some specialized equipment.

- Equipment used for identification and characteristics

microscope

It is used to see finer details that cannot be seen with a magnifying glass. In some cases, it may reveal details related to the origin of the stone or whether it has been treated.

Refractometer

The angle at which light refracts when it passes through the gemstone (refractive index) differs depending on the gemstone. We use a refractometer to determine the refractive index and confirm that the gemstone we purchased is the one we asked about.

Polariscope

It is used to observe polarized light and interference images. Polarized light will determine whether the stone is single refractive, double refractive, or polycrystalline, and interference images will show characteristic patterns. Check to see if there are any differences from the characteristics of the gemstone.

Ultraviolet Fluorescence Inspection Equipment

Providing a more detailed examination than black light, this machine shines short and long wave ultraviolet light on gemstones to check for fluorescence and color.

Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR)

It is used to examine the infrared absorption spectrum. A gemstone is irradiated with infrared light, and the change in vibration is graphed to see the characteristic waveform that appears. Check whether there are any differences between the name of the gemstone given at the time of purchase and its characteristics.

Appraisal in Third-party organization

If the appraisal up to this point indicates that the gemstone is different from its description, or if it is difficult to identify or detect its treatment without more precise appraisal equipment, or if the gemstone has a strict color range or the color affects its value, we will have it appraised by a third-party agency and obtain an appraisal certificate.
*When purchasing lots or gemstones that are believed to have been mined from the same rough stone, we may select a few stones for testing rather than the entire stone.

Photograph

Once the appraisal is complete, the product details are registered on the website and photography begins.

We photograph a single gemstone from different angles and situations, such as with different backgrounds, with or without light, photographs that show the whole gemstone, photographs that show its features, and photographs that show its size.
By taking many photos, we strive to ensure that the difference between the actual product and your image when you receive it is as small as possible.
All of our photographers are gemstone collectors themselves, and they take careful photos of each gemstone, searching for the angle and expression that will best convey its charm.
It seems that when it comes to a particular gemstone, people end up taking more photos of it than usual.

Exhibit

Upload the photos you have taken to the registered page and you're ready to list your item.
Once the product is purchased, we carefully pack it one by one and deliver it to the customer along with a quality guarantee certificate.