Marking diamond
AssigneeGersan Establishment
InventorsJames Gordon Charters Smith, Martin Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to produce on the table of a diamond gemstone (7), an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye using a ×10 loupe, an ultraviolet laser (1) having a wavelength of 193 nm is used in association with a mask (2) to irradiate the surface of the stone (7) at a fluence of less than 2 J/cm2 per pulse and with not fewer than 100 pulses, in the presence of air which reacts with the diamond (7) and causes the mark to be formed without any darkening which is visible when viewing using a microscope.
Claims21
A method of producing on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the facet surface and causes a mark to be formed, there being no substantial darkening in the formed mark.
A method of producing on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the facet surface and causes a mark to be formed, the fluence of the irradiation being below the level at which substantial darkening is caused to be present in the formed mark.
A method of producing on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the facet surface and causes a mark to be formed, the formed mark being such that is does not detract from the clarity grade of the diamond.
A method of producing on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the facet surface and causes a mark to be formed, the fluence of the irradiation being below the level at which the formed mark detracts from the clarity grade of the diamond.
A method of producing on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone an information mark which is invisible to the naked eye, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the face surface and causes a mark to be formed, the fluence being below the ablation threshold of the diamond and being below the level at which substantial darkening is caused to be present in the formed mark.
A method of producing an information mark on a polished facet of a diamond gemstone, comprising irradiating the respective portion of the facet surface with radiation having a wavelength shorter than about 400 nm, the fluence at the location irradiated not being more than about 3 J/cm2 per pulse and not fewer than about 100 pulses being used per location irradiated, in the presence of a reagent which reacts with the irradiated portion of the facet surface and causes a mark to be formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.