Megan Austin Valuations

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Megan Austin Valuations Independent Jewellery Valuer and Gemmologist
While-you-wait valuations by appointment.

18/10/2026

Gemmological Equipment - The Polariscope

A gemmological polariscope reveals how a gemstone behaves in polarised light. It sorts stones into three optical types: singly refractive, doubly refractive, and aggregate. That tells a gemmologist whether a stone is isotropic like garnet or spinel, or birefringent like ruby and quartz.
It also exposes strain known as ADR (Anomalous Double Refraction), twinning, and optic interference figures.

Our three specialties. Which one do you need?Gemmologist - Testing, identification Valuer - What it's worth in the curre...
13/10/2026

Our three specialties. Which one do you need?

Gemmologist - Testing, identification
Valuer - What it's worth in the current market
Designer - Taking treasured gems and turning them into stories for the next generation

DM us today to arrange an appointment

Your Old Jewellery Isn't FinishedThe stone in your grandmother's ring doesn't have to sit in a drawer. At Select Gems by...
12/10/2026

Your Old Jewellery Isn't Finished

The stone in your grandmother's ring doesn't have to sit in a drawer.

At Select Gems by Megan, we work with you to create a beautiful redesign that honours her and still feels like you, today.

Reusing a stone you already own costs far less than buying new, and you end up with something nobody else has.

DM us today to enquire about our one-hour complimentary design consultation.

When are gemstone treatments disclosed?There are many treatments carried out on gemstones that are standard industry pra...
10/10/2026

When are gemstone treatments disclosed?

There are many treatments carried out on gemstones that are standard industry practice - for example, heat treatment is standard and accepted for sapphire and ruby, oil and/or resin fracture filling is common and expected on emerald, and heat treatment to zoisite produces the brilliant blue/purple tones of tanzanite that we love so much.

However, other treatments such as lead-glass-filling to rubies can have a detrimental effect on the durability of the stone, as the filler can degrade with acids and even lemon juice. Surface diffusion treatment to sapphire must also be disclosed, as the blue colour is a shallow layer that may be polished out.

Contact Megan Austin Valuations today for an assessment of your gemstone jewellery.

When designing jewellery, the design itself is only half the outcome. Equally important is creating a secure setting, wi...
07/10/2026

When designing jewellery, the design itself is only half the outcome.

Equally important is creating a secure setting, with prongs sized to the stone, supportive galleries, and extra metal at key stress points such as the shank base, setting-to-band joint, and shoulders.

We also consider how the piece will be worn—at the gym, while typing, around car doors, and with toddlers—and provide care advice to keep it looking immaculate for years.

Contact us today to make a one hour complimentary design consultation -

https://calendly.com/meganaustinvaluations/design-consultation

Colour in SapphireSapphire colour comes from trace elements, not from the mineral itself. Corundum is colourless when pu...
04/10/2026

Colour in Sapphire

Sapphire colour comes from trace elements, not from the mineral itself. Corundum is colourless when pure; iron and titanium produce blue, chromium produces pink or red — which is why ruby and sapphire are the same species.

Those trace elements also make colour dependent on the light source. A stone that looks vivid in daylight can go flat and greyish under incandescent or LED lighting. Always assess colour in neutral daylight before you judge or buy.

30/09/2026

More rare and unusual gemstones!

Discovering remarkable colours, formations, and inclusions is just one of the many reasons gemmology is so exciting.

✨ Part 3

Are Diamonds Forever?A diamond is hard, but contrary to popular belief, they are not unbreakable. Hardness measures scra...
28/09/2026

Are Diamonds Forever?

A diamond is hard, but contrary to popular belief, they are not unbreakable. Hardness measures scratch resistance, not toughness — and a diamond has perfect cleavage in four directions. One well-aimed strike along a cleavage plane splits a stone cleanly in two.

Cutters use this feature to deliberately cleave rough. So handle diamonds with care: a sharp knock against a countertop edge can do real damage. Store them separately, inspect prongs yearly, and never assume "hardest mineral" means "unbreakable." Respect the cleavage planes, and your stone lasts generations.

24/09/2026

What’s new at Select Gems by Megan?

We gave a beloved engagement ring a full refresh — modernised with subtle design tweaks to create a fresh, future-ready look.
Timeless love, reimagined. ✨💍

To book your One Hour Complementary Design Consultation follow the link -
https://calendly.com/meganaustinvaluations/design-consultation

Gemmological Equipment - The 10x loupeA 10x loupe is a gemmologist’s essential companion — portable, precise, and reveal...
21/09/2026

Gemmological Equipment - The 10x loupe

A 10x loupe is a gemmologist’s essential companion — portable, precise, and revealing. It exposes surface features, inclusions, and polish marks that inform identification, quality, and possible treatments.

Quick to use in the field or at the bench, it aids accurate valuation and confident buying decisions. Affordable and simple, the 10x loupe sharpens observation skills and connects you to a gem’s true story, one close look at a time.

Address

Level 6/Suite 601-602, 180 Queen Street
Brisbane, QLD
4000

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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