Patent ID: 7655882

Claim:
Apparatus for producing an authentication certification for a gemstone, said gemstone have a laser micro-inscription thereon that forms at least one micro-inscribed symbol, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) at least one processor; (b) at least one memory coupled to the processor having a database in which are stored data defining said laser micro-inscriptions and physical characteristics of a plurality of gemstones; (c) a graphic user interface (GUI) for interacting with and controlling the processor; and (d) a computer output device, presenting in human readable form, information from the database including both: (1) information defining a unique characteristic of at least a portion of the laser micro-inscription on one of said gemstones, independent of the identity of the at least one micro-inscribed symbol; and (2) information defining at least one physical characteristic of said one gemstone, wherein the database is adapted to store, and said computer output device is adapted to generate an authentication certification output, comprising a sufficient description of the laser micro-inscription and physical characteristic information for said one gemstone to permit unambiguous authentication of a presumptive gemstone.