Lumenera Camera Analyzes the Brilliance, Fire and Sparkle of Diamonds

Global leader in diamond analyses, GemEx, chose Lumenera’s Lu130 camera for use in the BrillianceScope Analyzer. More than 200 BrillianceScopes are deployed around the world and over 2 million diamonds have been evaluated by the Lu130 camera.

GemEx Selects Lumenera to Determine Diamond Brilliance, Fire and Sparkle of Diamonds
GemEx is a global leader in diamond Brilliance, Fire and Sparkle certification and has founded the concept of scientifically measuring the Light Performance® of diamonds. Using an imaging spectrophotometer, called the BrillianceScope® Analyzer, GemEx is able to capture an image of a diamond from 6 different lighting angles.

The images generated by the BrillianceScope are evaluated by the amount of bright white light (Brilliance) and bright color light (Fire) that is returned to the eye. The instrument also analyzes how these lights change when the diamond is moved to determine scintillation (Sparkle). These measurements are compared with thousands of other diamonds to determine rank and performance and results are compiled in the GemEx Light Performance® Report.

More than 200 BrillianceScopes are deployed around the world and over 2 million diamonds have been evaluated and sold with GemEx Light Performance Reports.

Lumenera Provides GemEx with a Reliable and Easy-to-Use Imaging Solution
BrillianceScope instruments are placed in diamond cutting factories all over the world. The diamonds are first scanned, and then the data is sent to GemEx via the Internet. GemEx verifies the reliability of the scan, checking for cleanness, correct operation, calibration etc. and then issues a report that goes is included with the diamond when it is sold to the consumer.

GemEx required a camera with fast frame rates and an easy-to-use interface in the BrillianceScope instrument. They selected Lumenera’s Lu130 industrial camera with a USB 2.0 digital interface. The monochrome camera is mounted behind a lens and an imaging band-pass filter. Multiple images at multiple wavelengths are captured, and then reconstructed into color images.

The BrillianceScope is used in many different lighting environments. This requires a sensitive camera, in a small form factor, that is able to produce clear images in challenging conditions. The 1.4 megapixel Lu130 has performed exceptionally well in all BrillianceScope installations.

Prior to Lumenera’s Lu130 camera, GemEx used a digital camera that required ISA slots to connect with the computer. As ISA slots are becoming obsolete they chose to switch to the universally accepted USB interface. If GemEx did not switch to USB they would have been forced to build custom computers at a greater cost with limited capabilities.By choosing Lumenera’s USB 2.0 multi-megapixel cameras, GemEx could easily integrate the cameras into BrillianceScope and benefit from reliable, fast, and cost effective cameras with low noise.

GemEx Benefits from the Lu130’s Ease of Integration and Superior Camera Performance
GemEx uses the images captured by Lumenera’s camera, along with bar graphs to show the consumer how their diamond compares to all others in the world. These images are used on every GemEx report seen by diamond buying consumers all over the world.

“The Lu130 has been consistently reliable in some very challenging environments,” says Randall Wagner, CEO/Founder GemEx Systems. “The BrillianceScope instruments are placed in many locations that have varying environments, lighting, and power conditions and Lumenera’s cameras have always performed exceptionally well. When issues were suspected, the staff at Lumenera were quick to respond and helpful in solving all issues.”

The Lu130 provided GemEx with the ease of integration and superior camera performance needed for the BrillianceScope to successfully analyze diamond brilliance, fire and sparkle. Subsequently, helpful technical and sales support has maintained GemEx’s satisfaction and continued business.

• CID: 18467