Filter Chelsea

 The “chelsea” filter was originally devised by Anderson and Payne in 1934

Hold the filter an inch or two from the eye. Light the stone with a strong incandescent light bulb or torch, not LED. The stone may appear to change colour. The filter must be held near to the eye but there is no need to hold the filter close to the stone, even items in showcases can be examined providing they are lit by strong lights.

Chelsea Filters were also used to help separate aquamarine and natural zircon from synthetic flame-fusion spinel (used extensively in “birthstone” jewelry), as both of the former absorb the red portion of the spectrum and the synthetic spinel did not