Patent ID: 8035807

Claim:
An engraved gemstone viewer for viewing a gemstone with a smooth surface to visibly reveal a mark or inscription, engraved, embossed or etched into the otherwise smooth surface, the inscription being visible to the naked eye or of such a small size as to be invisible to the naked eye, said engraved gemstone viewer comprising: a housing forming a gemstone portal, said gemstone portal is fitted with a glass plate, and the gemstone is cooperatively received by pressing the smooth surface of the gemstone against said glass plate, a lens holder forming a viewing portal and frame structure that spaces said portals apart; a magnifying lens held by said lens holder and having a focal point, said lens holder and magnifying lens being oriented to allow viewing of the smooth surface of the gemstone when the gemstone is cooperatively received proximal said gemstone portal; a light source emitting a light directed to travel along an incident path toward the smooth surface of the gemstone, said light specularly reflecting off the smooth surface to produce specularly reflected light, said incident path and the smooth surface of the gemstone being positioned and oriented to direct said specularly reflected light to travel along a specularly reflected path through said magnifying lens and to said focal point, and a portion of said light traveling along said incident path diffusely reflecting off the inscription and traveling away from said specularly reflected path, said light source is secured to said housing, said light being directed to travel along an emitted path toward said lens, said lens surface being positioned and oriented to reflect said light to travel along said incident path toward the gemstone; and, wherein said specularly reflected light produces a light image that reveals the inscription as a reduction of light in the image, said image and inscription being viewable at said focal point of said magnifying lens.