Is it mounted?
You should find out what it is first. Anything valuable is for the experts.
Remove from mount:
If you know it is of little value, rubies/sapphires can be clarified by heating to red. An expert will be able to tell that it has been heat treated, but it will look nice. Most all lesser stones are just buffed out on a buffing wheel using course to fine pastes.
The pic is of a 4 grain ruby I found. You can see where I clarified the ends with a micro torch.
If it is a diamond clean with soap and water. Next mix 6 parts water 1 part ammonia and rub the stone. If the diamond is dull I think only re-cutting would save it, or maybe not worth the effort. Diamonds burn, so don't try the heat treating.
If you want to find out what it is by yourself without using instruments do a hardness test and a specific gravity test.
This is where I purchased my tools for testing stones.
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http://www.mineralab.com/
The little moto tools have buffing attachments and are handy to have around.
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You can come up with a selection of rubbing compounds without buying jewelers compounds. Car rubbing pastes and polish, tooth paste, non-scratching cleaning powers, valve grinding paste etc.. Just rub a little of each between your fingers to sense the grit size.
If you want to set up shop just do a web search on:
jewelers supply
I am not a jeweler or gemologist, so taking my advise is questionable. 
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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,1666.msg14455.html#msg14455
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« Last Edit: January 27, 2007, 10:30:02 pm by oRo »
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