Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space. A two-stage cooling apparatus and method is also described.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space. A two-stage cooling apparatus and method is also described.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a clarity grading look-up table includes collecting actual inclusion parameter data for a plurality of gems, where the actual inclusion parameter data includes an actual clarity grade and an actual inclusion parameter data combination. A mathematical relationship between a clarity grade and a particular inclusion parameter combination is then extrapolated from the actual inclusion parameter data. A derived clarity grade is then assigned to a plurality of inclusion parameter combinations as a function of the mathematical relationship and a set of inputted inclusion parameters. Also, a method and system for providing a clarity grade includes receiving a plurality of inclusion characteristics associated with a gem and parameterizing each of the inclusion characteristics, so that a parameter value is assigned to each inclusion characteristic. The parameter values are then input to a mathematical formula so as to provide a parameterized clarity grade for the gem.

Abstract: A system for grading the cut of a diamond utilizes a number of appearance metrics to generate scores for a number of cut components that affect cut quality. These cut components include brightness, fire, scintillation, overweight, durability, polish, and symmetry. The cut grading system employs a cut grading algorithm that processes the individual scores obtained for the cut components to generate an overall cut grade for the diamond. The scoring methodology and the cut grading algorithm are designed to emulate actual observation grading such that the overall cut grade represents a fair indication of the cut quality of the diamond. In one practical embodiment, the cut grading system is fully automated and computer-implemented.