Comparing gemstone signatures using angular spectrum information

Abstract

A system comprises a faceted structure imaging assembly and a faceted structure image analyzer. Signature information of the gemstone is obtained and compared to stored signature information. The signature information includes angular spectrum information generated by the imaging assembly while a colored light pattern is reflected onto the gemstone. The signature information uniquely identifies the gemstone and indicates whether an entity was the source of the gemstone. The signature information comparison involves comparing an angular spectrum image obtained by the imaging assembly to stored angular spectrum images. In one example, the system compares the obtained signature information to stored signature information to validate a source of the gemstone. In another example, the system obtains signature information of the gemstone and forwards the signature information to a remote validation system. The remote validation system compares the signature information to stored signature information and forwards a validation result to the system.