An AI-powered app designed to identify gemstones and estimate their value has entered the market, letting users assess jewelry and loose stones with only a smartphone camera.
How the app works
GemstoneAI guides users to photograph their gemstone or jewelry at the best angle and lighting. Two separate AI models analyze the image in real time, checking authenticity signals and treatment indicators to determine the stone type and its estimated value.
The app recognizes over 200 gem varieties and reads gold hallmarks and karat stamps on jewelry. It pulls estimated values from live comparable sales data online, covering 135 gem varieties and updated daily. A formal appraisal or gemological laboratory report is still required for official purposes.
Vik Westermann, the app’s founder, built the platform himself. A former product manager at PayPal, he turned his attention to the jewelry industry after marrying a sapphire dealer. He released GemstoneAI in April and later attended the JCK Las Vegas trade show to collect feedback.
Each identification includes a confidence score and alternative possibilities for visually similar gems, such as garnet and spinel. The system also flags potentially synthetic materials. A flawless 3-carat ruby, for instance, would trigger a warning, since natural stones rarely appear so perfect.
Who’s using it—and why
Westermann expected users to scan loose gemstones out of curiosity. Instead, most scans involve finished jewelry like rings, pendants, necklaces, and earrings, often inherited or part of estate collections. The app stores scanned pieces in a digital portfolio, tracking their value as market prices change.
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“Baby boomers are retiring, and much of that wealth is passing to millennials, many of whom have inherited a box of grandma’s jewelry,” Westermann said. Data from the app shows millennials are cataloging inherited pieces before visiting jewelers, a trend more common among younger buyers.
The app aims to connect curiosity with professional appraisal. “The customer who has already cataloged her jewelry box is one of the best customers a jeweler can see,” a company fact sheet notes. “She arrives with questions that matter: appraisal, insurance, restyling, and the pieces she is ready to sell.”
Many scanned items come from estate inventory, a growing category for independent jewelers. The free version offers limited scans, while a paid subscription provides unlimited scans, deeper analysis, and collection tracking.
Gemstone pricing involves complexities like origin and whether a stone is natural or lab-grown, which can shift value significantly. For now, the app acts as a starting point, one that may encourage users to visit physical stores rather than replace them.
Westermann has no immediate plans to expand the app’s features. The platform remains a solo project, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
