Gemstone inventory and detection system

#Identification of individual diamonds and other gemstones has been a longstanding problem for both jewelers and their customers. To date, the only method of identification available is the laser scribing of a serial number on the stone.

#The purpose of this invention is to provide a unique solution to this identification process. In this solution an RFID (radio frequency identification chip) is adhered to the girdle or some other portion of the stone, preferably a location that is not visible or is inconspicuous when the stone is mounted, by an adhesive such as a clear epoxy. Use of a UV epoxy would provide instant adhesion to the stone.

#FIG. 1 is a side view of a diamond illustrating the points of attachment of RFID chips;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a system for inventorying and detecting the removal of gemstones from a display area;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an RFID chip and associated antenna; and

#Referring to FIG. 1, the extremely small RFID chips are adhered to a gemstone such as a diamond 10 at a point which will not normally be visible when the gemstone is incorporated at the setting, such as along the girdle or at some point below the girdle.

#To prevent exchange of an RFID equipped stone with a stone of lesser value, the chip is covered by a material which would provide a visual indication of the removal of the chip from the stone.

#The RFID chip would be of the type supplied by PharmaSeq (Princeton, N.J.). This chip is activated by light and transmits its data by RF. The memory portion of the chip contains a unique serial number. In actual production, a serial number would not be duplicated for years.