Diamond mapping

A method for producing a record of a diamond, the method comprising the steps of (a) placing the diamond in a beam of monochromatic laser radiation capable of causing Raman radiation to be scattered from the diamond, (b) passing the scattered Raman radiation from the diamond through a filter adapted to pass only scattered Raman radiation characteristic of diamond, (c) measuring the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation, and (d) recording the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation at one or more different orientations of the diamond.

A method for identifying a diamond, the method comprising the steps of (a) placing the diamond to be identified in a beam of monochromatic laser radiation capable of causing Raman radiation to be scattered from the diamond, (b) passing the scattered Raman radiation from the diamond through a filter adapted to pass only scattered Raman radiation characteristic of diamond, (c) measuring the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation, (d) recording the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation at one or more different orientations of the diamond, and (e) comparing the recorded intensities with records of known diamonds whereby the diamond may be identified.

An apparatus for producing a record of a diamond, the apparatus comprising in combination (a) means for holding the diamond in a beam of monochromatic laser radiation capable of causing Raman radiation to be scattered from the diamond, (b) means for filtering the resultant scattered Raman radiation, said filter being adapted to pass only scattered Raman radiation characteristic of diamond, (c) means for measuring the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation, and (d) means for recording the intensity of the filtered Raman radiation at one or more different orientations of the diamond to produce a record of the diamond.