Method and System for Improved Optical Modeling of Gemstones

An apparatus for constructing a virtual model of a gemstone, including:

• means for performing measurements of the gemstone to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model of an exterior surface of the gemstone:
• means for identifying one or more visible inclusions within an interior volume of the gemstone;
• means for constructing a 3D virtual model of each identified inclusion;
• means for constructing a 3D virtual model of the gemstone including the 3D virtual model of the exterior surface of the gemstone and the 3D virtual models of the one or more visible inclusions within the interior volume of the gemstone;
• and
• means for generating a dataset representing said 3D virtual model,
• wherein said dataset may be used in subsequent computer analysis to provide the user with information relating to a visual characteristic of the gemstone, and
• wherein the means for constructing a 3D virtual model of each inclusion includes:
• means for capturing at least one image of the inclusion;
• means for using the at least one image to determine relevant optical characteristics of the inclusion;
• and
• means for constructing a 3D virtual model of the inclusion, said model including the 3D shape of the inclusion and optical properties of the inclusion based upon said optical characteristics.

A system for constructing a virtual model of a gemstone, including:

• a gemstone scanning apparatus configured to perform measurements of the gemstone to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model of an external surface of the gemstone;
• a computer having at least one central processor, a display device, and one or more user input devices, the computer being operatively connected to the scanning apparatus and configured to receive information from the scanning apparatus defining an exterior surface of the gemstone;
• the computer further including at least one storage medium operatively associated with the processor and containing instructions executable by the processor for performing the steps of:
• identifying one or more visible inclusions within an interior volume of the gemstone;
• for each identified inclusion, constructing a 3D virtual model of the inclusion;
• constructing a 3D virtual model of the gemstone including the 3D virtual model of the exterior surface of the gemstone and the 3D virtual models of the one or more visible inclusions within the interior volume of the gemstone;
• and
• generating and storing within the storage medium a dataset representing said 3D virtual model,
• wherein said dataset may be used in subsequent computer analysis to provide a user with information relating to a visual characteristic of the gemstone, and
• wherein the instructions executable by the processor for performing the step of constructing a 3D virtual model of each inclusion include instructions executable by the processor for performing the sub-steps of:
• capturing at least one image of the inclusion;
• using the at least one image to determine relevant optical characteristics of the inclusion;
• and
• constructing a 3D virtual model of the inclusion, said model including the 3D shape of the inclusion and optical properties of the inclusion based upon said optical characteristics.