An optical spectrometer for measuring a spectral signature of an object comprising, in combination: fringe generating optics; a digital camera adapted to receive the interference fringes; and a processor adapted to generate the spectral signature of the object; wherein the fringe generating optics create interference fringes from light from an object and which is adapted to transmit the interference fringes to the camera, which generates a signal which is in turn relayed to the processor to generate the spectral signature of the object, the fringe generating optics comprising, in combination: front optics comprising a diffuser adapted to receive and diffuse light from the object; and birefringent optics, adapted to the receive diffuse light from the diffuser, characterized in that the birefringent optics comprise a first polariser; a first flat birefringent plate; a second flat birefringent plate parallel to the first flat birefringent plate; and a second polariser, wherein the diffuser is formed on or immediately adjacent the first polariser, the diffused light travels from the diffuser to the first polariser, then to the first flat parallel birefringent plate, then to the second flat, parallel birefringent plate and then to the second polariser; wherein the first polariser and second polariser are each adapted to transmit light linearly polarised at a polarisation angle formed in a plane perpendicular to a direction of light transmission through the birefringent optics. fringe generating optics; a digital camera adapted to receive the interference fringes; and a processor adapted to generate the spectral signature of the object; wherein the fringe generating optics create interference fringes from light from an object and which is adapted to transmit the interference fringes to the camera, which generates a signal which is in turn relayed to the processor to generate the spectral signature of the object, the fringe generating optics comprising, in combination: front optics comprising a diffuser adapted to receive and diffuse light from the object; and birefringent optics, adapted to the receive diffuse light from the diffuser, characterized in that the birefringent optics comprise a first polariser; a first flat birefringent plate; a second flat birefringent plate parallel to the first flat birefringent plate; and a second polariser, wherein the diffuser is formed on or immediately adjacent the first polariser, the diffused light travels from the diffuser to the first polariser, then to the first flat parallel birefringent plate, then to the second flat, parallel birefringent plate and then to the second polariser; wherein the first polariser and second polariser are each adapted to transmit light linearly polarised at a polarisation angle formed in a plane perpendicular to a direction of light transmission through the birefringent optics. front optics comprising a diffuser adapted to receive and diffuse light from the object; and birefringent optics, adapted to the receive diffuse light from the diffuser, characterized in that the birefringent optics comprise a first polariser; a first flat birefringent plate; a second flat birefringent plate parallel to the first flat birefringent plate; and a second polariser, wherein the diffuser is formed on or immediately adjacent the first polariser, the diffused light travels from the diffuser to the first polariser, then to the first flat parallel birefringent plate, then to the second flat, parallel birefringent plate and then to the second polariser; wherein the first polariser and second polariser are each adapted to transmit light linearly polarised at a polarisation angle formed in a plane perpendicular to a direction of light transmission through the birefringent optics. a first polariser; a first flat birefringent plate; a second flat birefringent plate parallel to the first flat birefringent plate; and a second polariser, wherein the diffuser is formed on or immediately adjacent the first polariser, the diffused light travels from the diffuser to the first polariser, then to the first flat parallel birefringent plate, then to the second flat, parallel birefringent plate and then to the second polariser; wherein the first polariser and second polariser are each adapted to transmit light linearly polarised at a polarisation angle formed in a plane perpendicular to a direction of light transmission through the birefringent optics.