Method and apparatus for analyzing gems

Apparatus for analyzing gem specimens comprising:

• energy radiating means for radiating electromagnetic energy over a first wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity,
• holder means for holding a gem specimen relative to the energy radiating means so that radiated energy interacts with the gem specimen, causing it to emit radiated energy as the result of said interaction over a second wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity;
• detector means disposed in a position in which it is exposed to said second spectrum of radiated energy for sensing the integrated response of the specimen resulting from said interaction over a spectrum that is narrow relative to the second spectrum, said narrow spectrum being chosen as a function of known response of a particular species of gem to radiated energy;
• signal means for generating a signal representative of the integrated response as sensed by the detector means;
• and readout means associated with the signal means for providing a readout in response to said signal that is representative of the nature of the gem specimen.

A method of analyzing gem specimens comprising:

• causing electromagnetic energy to be radiated over a first wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity;
• disposing a gem specimen relative to the first spectrum of electromagnetic energy so that the radiated energy interacts with the gem specimen, causing it to emit radiated energy as the result of said interaction over a second wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity;
• sensing the integrated response to the specimen resulting from said interaction over a spectrum that is narrow relative to the second spectrum, said narrow spectrum being chosen as a function of known response of a particular species of gem to radiated energy;
• generating a signal respresentative of the integrated response as sensed;
• and
• providing a readout in response to said signal that is representative of the nature of the gem specimen.

Apparatus for distinguishing between natural and synthetic gem specimens of the same gem type, comprising:

• housing means;
• a source of radiated energy carried by the housing means capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation over a wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity;
• holder means for supporting a gem specimen in a predetermined position relative to the source of radiated energy, the holder means being opaque to said radiated energy and having an aperture formed therethrough in which the gem specimen is disposed, and through which at least part of the gem specimen is exposed to said radiated energy;
• the holder means and the source of radiated energy being constructed and arranged so that the radiated energy interacts with said gem specimen, causing it as a result to emit radiated energy over a wide spectrum of wavelengths of varying intensity;
• detector means carried by the housing means in a position in which it is exposed to the energy emitted by said gem specimen and constructed to detect the intensity of energy emitted by said gem specimen over a spectrum of wavelengths that is narrow relative to the spectrum of wavelengths emitted by said gem specimen, said narrow spectrum being chosen based on the known difference in response to radiated energy between natural and synthetic specimens of the same gem type;
• signal means associated with the detector means for generating an electric signal representative of the intensity of energy emitted by the gem specimen and detected by the detector means;
• and readout means associated with the signal means for providing a readout in response to said electric signal that indicates whether the gem specimen is natural or synthetic.