Laser Usage in Diamond Cutting (16.12)
Laser technology was first used in the early 1970s with the process of drilling into dark inclusions so this very narrow tunnel would have access for a strong bleaching acid agent. By the late 1980s lasers were being used for sawing (dividing) rough diamond which was advantageous since cutting perpendicular to grain direction was unnecessary. By the 1990s laser were employed in precision diamond cutting. The main advantage of this method is the flexibility in cutting directions. The laser burns through the diamond with intense focused heat. The only disadvantage is the slight additional weight loss in polishing away the burned surface.
The above image is courtesy of: https://www.synova.ch/product/davinci-diamond-factory/
Lasers are also used for drilling to access unsightly inclusions (as discussed earlier). The intense beam of light creates a tiny tunnel, through which a strong acid can reach the inclusion to lighten its color, or dissolve its impurity, thereby making it less noticeable. Lasers can also cut exotic diamond shapes such as a butterfly, a horse’s head or the state of Texas. They can also be used to create the cleft in a heart shape diamond.
Above image by Glenn Lovelady
The above image is courtesy of: https://www.akoneer.com/
Lasers are also commonly used in diamond inscriptions to identify a diamond with a matching lab report number or a logo identifying the manufacturer. The inscriptions are usually found on the girdle of the diamond but some brands add the even smaller inscription on to a star facet.
The above image is courtesy of: https://www.ogisystems.com/