Single crystal diamond gemstones and methods therefor
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsTimothy A. Grotjohn, Carolyn Randall
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to the inclusion of an image embedded in or on a single crystal diamond such that the image is part of the single crystal diamond structure. The disclosed methods use a combination of gemstone deposition processes and patterning processes to create single crystal gemstones with embedded color variations that can create externally visible two-dimensional or three-dimensional images in a seamless single crystal matrix without visible internal lines/interfacial boundaries. The image embedded image is differently colored from the surrounding diamond matrix. The color variation is accomplished by a change in the diamond growth conditions or treatment of the diamond.
Claims22
A method for forming a multicolored single crystal gemstone (SCG) structure, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a first SCG layer having (i) a growth surface and (ii) a first color;
- (b) removing a portion of the first SCG layer from the growth surface thereof, thereby forming a recess in the first SCG layer;
- (c) depositing a second SCG layer into the recess and optionally onto the growth surface of the first SCG layer, the second SCG layer having a second color different from the first color;
- (d) optionally removing a portion of the second SCG layer so that at least a portion of the second SCG layer remains in the recess as a patterned second SCG layer, thereby forming a multicolored SCG composite structure;
- (e) optionally depositing a third SCG layer having a third color above the patterned second SCD layer, thereby enlarging the multicolored SCG composite structure;
- and
- (f) reshaping the multicolored SCG composite structure into a gemstone shape.
A method for forming a multicolored single crystal diamond (SCG) structure, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a first SCG layer having (i) a growth surface and (ii) a first color;
- (b) depositing a second SCG layer onto the growth surface of the first SCG layer, the second SCG layer having a second color different from the first color;
- (c) removing a portion of the either the first SCG layer or the second SCG layer to form a patterned first SCG layer or a patterned second SCG layer from the remaining layer material, thereby forming a multicolored SCG composite structure;
- (d) optionally depositing a third SCG layer having a third color above the patterned first SCG layer or the patterned second SCG layer, thereby enlarging the multicolored SCG composite structure;
- and
- (e) reshaping the multicolored SCG composite structure into a gemstone shape.
A synthetic composite multicolored single crystal gemstone (SCG) comprising:
- (a) a first SCG layer having a first color;
- (b) a second SCG layer having a second color different from the first color, the second SCG layer being embedded within the SCG gemstone or being positioned at an external surface of the SCG gemstone;
- and
- (c) optionally a third SCG layer having a third color, the third SCG layer being positioned over one or more of the first SCG layer and the second SCG layer;
- wherein:
- (i) the first SCG layer, the second SCG layer, and the third SCG layer, when present, share the same single crystal structure;
- and
- (ii) the SCG gemstone has a gemstone shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.