Laser marking system

A laser energy microinscribing system, for gemstones, said system comprising:

• a laser energy source;
• a gemstone mounting system, allowing optical access to a mounted workpiece;
• an optical system for focusing laser energy from the laser energy source, onto the gemstone to create an ablation pattern thereon;
• means for directing said focused laser energy onto a desired portion of the gemstone, having a control input;
• an imaging system for viewing the gemstone from at least one vantage point and obtaining image information from the gemstone;
• an input for receiving marking instructions;
• and
• a processor for controlling said directing means based on said marking instructions and said imaging system, to selectively generate a marking based on said instructions and a predetermined program.

A laser energy microinscribing system for gemstones, said system comprising:

• a laser energy source;
• a cut gemstone mounting system, allowing optical access to a mounted gemstone;
• an optical system for focusing laser energy from the laser energy source onto a cut gemstone;
• a displaceable stage for moving said gemstone mounting system with respect to said optical system so that said focused laser energy is presented to desired positions on said gemstone, having a control input;
• an imaging system for viewing the gemstones from at least one vantage point;
• a rigid frame supporting said laser, said optical system and said stage in fixed relation, to resist differential movements of said laser, said optical system and said stage and increase immunity to vibrational misalignments;
• an input for receiving marking instructions;
• and
• a processor for controlling said displaceable stage based on said marking instructions and said imaging system, to selectively generate a marking based on said instructions and a predetermined program.

A method for authenticating a cut gemstone, comprising the steps of:

• (a) identifying a girdle of the cut gemstone;
• (b) applying a microinscribed marking to a portion of the girdle, the microinscribed marking having a fixed relation to the girdle;
• (c) reporting an image of the microinscribed marking and the portion of the girdle of the cut gemstone, having sufficient resolution and scope to record a relationship of the microinscribed marking to the portion of the girdle;
• (d) storing information from the recorded image digitally.

A laser energy microinscribing system for gemstones, said system comprising:

• a laser energy source;
• a cut gemstone mounting system, allowing optical access to a mounted gemstone;
• an optical system for focusing laser energy from the laser energy source onto a cut gemstone;
• a displaceable stage, having a control input, for moving said gemstone mounting system with respect to said optical system so that said focused laser energy is presented to desired positions on said gemstone;
• an imaging system for viewing the gemstone from at least one vantage point;
• and
• a rigid frame supporting said laser, said optical system and said stage in fixed relation, to resist differential movements of said laser, said optical system and said stage and increase immunity to vibrational misalignments.