Diamond Fluorescence Spectral Tracing for Polished Gemstone Provenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tracing the origin and identity of polished diamonds is challenging due to changes in their form and characteristics during processing, especially for diamonds with high clarity levels where unique identifiers like inclusions are lost during polishing, making it difficult to link the rough diamond to its polished product.
Innovation Solution
The method involves exciting diamond samples with specific light wavelengths to induce fluorescence, recording emission spectra, and analyzing these spectra to determine relationships between gemstones, using techniques such as generating fluorescence signatures or comparison identifiers, and potentially utilizing AI for matching, which helps in tracing the origin of polished diamonds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional identification methods (inclusions, 3D modeling) are used to trace diamonds, then tracing accuracy is improved for lower clarity diamonds, but tracing fails for high clarity diamonds where inclusions are lost during polishing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the identification parameter from physical features (inclusions, 3D shape) that are lost during polishing to fluorescence spectral parameters that remain invariant. By measuring fluorescence emission spectra at multiple wavelengths and comparing spectral signatures, the system can trace high clarity diamonds through processing stages where traditional physical markers disappear.
2Reliability
If multiple excitation wavelengths are used to generate fluorescence spectra, then the uniqueness and reliability of fluorescence signatures is improved, but the complexity of the measurement system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluorescence measurement into multiple discrete excitation wavelength steps (e.g., 275nm, 310nm, 365nm, 405nm, 450nm, 480nm, 530nm, 560nm, 590nm, 630nm, 660nm, 690nm, 730nm, 760nm, 790nm, 830nm, 860nm, 890nm, 930nm, 960nm). At each wavelength, the system measures emission spectra and builds a comprehensive fluorescence signature. This segmented approach maintains reliability while managing system complexity through systematic data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous scanning across the electromagnetic spectrum by sequentially exciting the diamond at multiple wavelengths and continuously recording the fluorescence emission response. This continuous measurement approach ensures complete spectral coverage and maximizes the uniqueness of the fluorescence signature without requiring complex simultaneous multi-wavelength instrumentation.
3Measurement precision
If fluorescence measurement is performed at multiple wavelengths, then the ability to distinguish between different diamonds is improved, but the measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary fluorescence measurements on rough diamonds before they enter the polishing and processing stages. The fluorescence spectral data is stored and associated with the diamond's identity. Later, the same measurement protocol is applied to processed diamonds, and the pre-collected spectral signatures are compared against the database of rough diamond signatures, enabling rapid tracing without repeating extensive measurements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the accurate tracing of polished diamonds to their rough counterparts by utilizing their intrinsic fluorescence properties, which remain unchanged by polishing, even for high-clarity diamonds, thereby providing verifiable proof of a diamond's provenance.
Implementation Method 1
Diamonds are fluorescent when excited with specific light wavelengths. Fluorescence of diamonds is intrinsic to a specifically examined diamond, it cannot be manipulated and it is not generally changed by the polishing process.
Implementation Method 2
Fluorescence of diamonds can be excited by shining a number of different wavelengths of light on the diamond. This action induces different emission spectra for each excitation wavelength.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining properties of gemstones based, inter alia, on fluorescence properties of the gemstones, are presented. In one aspect, properties of at least one gemstone can be determined. In another aspect, a relationship between at least two gemstones can be determined. In one example, a first and a second gemstones are illuminated with illuminating light of at least one fluorescence-exciting wavelength range; corresponding at least one first fluorescence-emission light and at least one second fluorescence-emission light spectrum, emitted from the first and second gemstones respectively are detected and analyzed, either independently or by comparison, to determine the relationship between the first and second gemstones. In some examples, data indicative of visible light absorbance or three-dimensional models of the gemstones is combined with the fluorescence data to determine the properties or the relationship.