Abstract: A viewing apparatus for viewing a surface of a gemstone comprising an adjustable platform with a surface adapted to receive the gemstone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a viewing axis along which the gemstone is viewed, a light source to emit light substantially parallel to the viewing axis, and an adjustment mechanism having misalignment indicators, arranged to provide three or more visually distinguishable zones around the viewing axis. The adjustment mechanism also has three or more adjustment indicators positioned relative to the platform and the misalignment indicators, where the adjustment indicators are associated with the visually distinguishable zones such that an image viewed along the viewing axis of one of the zones reflected from the surface of the gemstone provides an indication of which way to adjust the platform relative to the viewing axis to make the surface of the gemstone perpendicular to the viewing axis.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate image data for use in determining a property of a gemstone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support structure configured to support the gemstone at an observation position such that an axis of symmetry of the gemstone is substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the apparatus, a light source, including a reflector having a concave surface arranged to reflect a spatially varied light pattern generally towards the observation position, the concave surface including at least one relatively reflective region and at least one relatively unreflective region and is configured to generate the light pattern, where the length of a boundary between the relatively reflective region and the relatively unreflective region is greater than the radial distance between the center and an edge of the concave surface, and a rotator configured to rotate the gemstone relative to the light pattern substantially about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method of capturing data for gemstone analysis is provided. The method includes capturing images of the gemstone under differing lighting conditions, and comparing the captured images.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating data for use in determining a property of a gemstone, such as a cut diamond with a support structure for supporting a gemstone placed at an observation position, the support structure being arranged such that, if the gemstone has an axis of symmetry, the gemstone is supportable such that the axis of symmetry is parallel to an axis X passing through the observation position; an illuminator arranged to illuminate a gemstone so placed with a spatially varied light pattern; a rotator arranged to cause relative rotation between the light pattern and the support structure generally about the axis X; and a camera arranged to capture, at each of a plurality of rotational positions, an image of light returned by the gemstone and to output said images as image data.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating data for use in determining a property of a gemstone, such as a cut diamond, the apparatus comprising: a support structure for supporting a gemstone placed at an observation position, the support structure being arranged such that, if the gemstone has an axis of symmetry, the gemstone is supportable such that the axis of symmetry is parallel to an axis X passing through the observation position; illumination means arranged to illuminate a gemstone so placed with a spatially varied light pattern; rotation means arranged to cause relative rotation between the light pattern and the support structure generally about the axis X; a camera arranged to capture, at each of a plurality of rotational positions, an image of light returned by the gemstone and to output said images as image data.