Description
A Polariscope is used to test the optical properties of gemstones and determine whether a stone is singly refractive, doubly refractive or is an aggregate. Doubly refractive stones may be divided further as to whether they are uniaxial or biaxial. The polariscope may also be used to detect pleochroism in doubly refractive coloured stones. Diamond cutters use the polariscope to determine the strain characteristics of diamonds.
