Laser-Tech Firm Addresses Diamond Counterfeiting

RAPAPORT... A University of Oxford spinout has created laser technology that tackles counterfeiting of diamonds by placing a permanent mark on stones. Opsydia uses high-precision lasers to etch imprints - such asnumbers or logos - smaller than one-50th the size of a human hair below thesurface of a diamond. Because of their placement inside the diamond, the laseretchings cannot be polished off. The technology works by applying laser pulses, shorter thanone trillionth of a second in length, and shot over a million times per second,to a diamond. The markings require a microscope to view them and don't affectthe stone's grading. De Beers announced on Tuesday it would use Opsydia to mark lab-grown diamonds for its new synthetic-stone venture, LightboxJewelry. "Our laser technology can transform security in the diamondindustry and support industry initiatives to prevent counterfeiting andtampering," said Andrew Rimmer, CEO of Opsydia. "Following the investment fromour shareholders, we have a process that works today on an industrial scale. Weexpect to be able to deliver systems to operators in the diamond industrywithin months, allowing us to move swiftly to profitability." In September, Opsydia closed a seed round of $2.5 million(GBP 1.9 million) in funding from Oxford University Innovation (OUI) andParkwalk Opportunities Fund.