Is This Amethyst or Glass? Identifying Gemstones in Sterling Silver Jewelry

Question
My elderly mother lives in a home..she gave me a bracelet she won in Bingo...it is stamped 925 Sterling silver...the stones look like amethyst...it has a double safety lock on the clasp...how can I tell if the stones are glass or amethyst?

Answer
Hi Elli,

The best way is to look carefully at the stones under a microscope.  Look for bubbles they are usually present in glass.  The other way is to have a gemologist at a Jewelry store if they have one check it with a refractive index unit.  Glass will have a different reading than Quartz.
If you see bubbles you will not have to look further.  It is glass.  If you do not then the refractive index will make sure it is amethyst.

Regards,
Steven D.Covey