Education and demonstration – Means for demonstrating apparatus – product – or surface... – Jewelry or monogram
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-15
2004-09-07
Rovnak, John Edmund (Department: 3714)
Education and demonstration
Means for demonstrating apparatus, product, or surface...
Jewelry or monogram
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786733
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method of and system for teaching an untrained observer to evaluate a gemstone such as a cut diamond. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method of and system for teaching an untrained observer to appreciate the effect of cut on the value of a gemstone, and to provide the untrained observer with an opportunity to evaluate and compare gemstones for himself or herself.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY
The beauty of a gemstone, such as a cut diamond, derives from its light handling ability. What attracts the eye is the “game of light” played by a well-cut diamond as incident light is reflected and refracted off its many facets. Diamonds and other gemstones have been cut, polished and worn as jewelry for thousands of years. They may be cut according to many different cut patterns such as the round brilliant, oval, pear, marquise, radiant, princess, heart, emerald cut etc. The most popular cut today is known as the standard round brilliant (SRB) cut as shown in
FIGS. 1
a
and
1
b.
The precursor to the modern SRB cut emerged in 1919 with Marcel Tolkowsky's seminal work entitled, “Diamond Design: A Study of the Reflection and Refraction of Light in Diamond.” This work marked a breakthrough in the theoretical understanding of how cut affects light handling ability. Tolkowsky suggested certain cut proportions (i.e., the geometry) of a round brilliant diamond which should produce near optimal light performance. Today, research into the cut of a diamond is greatly advanced and techniques are being used, such as computer modeling, to study the complex optics of the SRB cut. However, the modern SRB cut bears much similarity with the round brilliant cut originally proposed by Tolkowsky.
When purchasing a gemstone, such as a cut diamond, an untrained observer typically relies on the skill and knowledge of the jeweler to explain the differences between one gemstone and another. When describing a cut diamond to an untrained observer, the jeweler may refer to what are known as the four C's—its carat weight, clarity, color, and cut. Each of these factors has an effect on the value of the diamond. Of these factors, the effect of carat weight is relatively straightforward for the untrained observer to understand—the value of a cut diamond generally increases with increasing carat weight. Similarly, the effects of clarity (clear diamonds are generally more valuable than less clear diamonds) and color (colorless diamonds are generally more valuable than colored diamonds) are relatively straightforward for the untrained observer to understand.
However, it is the cut of a diamond, and its dramatic effect on light handling ability, that has the most significant effect on value. Diamond cutting and polishing is a highly skilled art and a well-cut diamond will command a significant price premium over an otherwise identical but poorly cut diamond. In the words of one expert “cut is king!” However, given the theoretical complexity of the effect of cut on the optical performance of a gemstone, it is hardly surprising that it is the most difficult factor for a jeweler to explain to an untrained observer.
When describing the light handling abilities of cut gemstones, gemologists sometimes refer to optical properties of gemstones such as brilliance (the intensity of light returned), scintillation (fast and local fluctuations in the light returned as the gemstone moves relative to the lighting conditions), fire (the dispersion of white light into spectral colors as it refracts off the facets of the gemstone) and symmetry (the symmetry of light patterns such as the so-called “hearts and arrows” visible from the pavilion and table sides of an SRB cut diamond). However, analysis of gemstones according to these optical properties has mostly been a subjective exercise undertaken only by trained gemologists with substantial experience of examining gemstones. Untrained observers do not have the knowledge or experience to judge these optical properties for themselves. A potential purchaser, when shown a particular cut diamond under the controlled lighting conditions of a jeweler's shop, may like it or dislike it. Furthermore, he or she may subjectively prefer one diamond to another. But without training and experience, he or she will not be able to judge the light handling performance of a diamond at a level sufficient to explain the significant price premium which a well-cut diamond will command over an otherwise identical but poorly cut diamond.
Recently, electronic gemstone analyzing systems have become available which measurements of optical properties of gemstones to be taken. International Patent Publication number WO 96/23207 describes a device which captures color images of a gemstone placed in an analysis chamber and illuminated by a uniform annular light which may be moved along an axis such that the gemstone may be illuminated from a plurality of different angles. The device performs a spectral analysis of the captured images using a tunable optical band pass filter to determine the color of the gemstone. Digital images of the gemstone may also be stored, displayed or transmitted over a data network.
The website (www.gemex.com) of GemEx Systems, Inc, a US company, describes a device called the BrillianceScope Analyzer which is described as an imaging spectrophotometer. Color images of a diamond are captured in a controlled lighting environment consisting of six lighting angles, five of which provide reflected light and one of which provides diffuse lighting. These images may then be analyzed to generate a report on the diamond. The BrillianceScope Analyzer device operates on the same principle as the device described in International Patent Publication number WO 96/23207 referred to above, in that the gemstone is placed in an analysis chamber and illuminated by a uniform annular light which may be moved along an axis such that the gemstone is illuminated from different angles. The images may be analyzed by a computer, and the properties of “white light”, “colored light” and “scintillation” for a diamond are determined and displayed on three line chart scales from ‘low’, to ‘medium’ to ‘high’. Captured images may also be shown in a repeating sequence in one display area, giving the effect of light movement.
International Patent Publication number WO 99/61890 describes a system for the standardized grading of gemstones. A gemstone is subject to a plurality of incident light sources and images are captured for analysis. Images of the gemstone, such as a SRB cut diamond, may be captured from various viewpoints such as from the pavilion, from the crown and side-on. The gemstone is supported by a rotatable platform which is rotated when images are being captured from a side-on viewpoint to obtain profile and color images from a variety of rotational positions and to detect internal flaws and inclusions. When capturing images from above and below the gemstone, the platform is moved along an axis from a level position to a down and an up position respectively. The fixed focal length camera is also moved along an axis to focus on the gemstone when the platform is moved between the up, down and level positions. A captured image may be analyzed by a processor to obtain color measurements and measures of the brilliance and scintillation of the gemstone.
The above-described electronic gemstone analyzing systems are suited for use by trained professionals, such as gemologists or jewelers. None of the systems provides teaching enabling an untrained observer, such as a potential purchaser of a cut diamond, to understand the significance of the results of analysis.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INCENTIVE ASPECTS
Accordingly, certain inventive aspects relate to a system, method and computer program for teaching an untrained observer to evaluate a gemstone for himself or herself.
More particularly, one inventive aspect enables the untrained observer to understand the effect of
Lapa Davy
Lenaerts Christian
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Overseas Diamonds Inc.
Rovnak John Edmund
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