What is Diamond Laser Inscription?

Laser inscription is a modern technique to permanently print or inscribe something onto a diamond. The technology can safely and easily inscribe personal messages, certificate numbers, logos, brand names, line art, and even photographs onto the girdle, the outer edge of a diamond. Inscriptions can be as small as 1/100 of a human hair. Often a diamond is laser inscribed with a diamond grading report number.

Canadian Diamonds

Canadian diamonds are laser inscribed to show a brand logo and a serial number. This is used to track the diamond as it moves through the supply chain. As diamonds are shipped from place to place, identification is made easy with laser inscriptions. Anyone can look at the logo and serial number and compare the diamond to the documentation that was created for the diamond. Along with other details about the each diamond such as the measurements, weight, clarity and colour, the laser inscription guarantees we can identify the diamond.

Recently our appraisal lab was asked to grade and evaluate a suspicious diamond which was purchased from a very well known internet diamond retailer. The diamond was sold as a Canadian diamond. It had a laser inscribed number but no other indication of the origin. We could not verify this was a Canadian diamond. The owner said he was told he could return the diamond to the website for a full refund, but he worried it might get lost in transit and he would never see the refund. Reluctantly, he kept the diamond and had it set. If you are buying a Canadian diamond, be sure you are getting a verifiable serial number along with an identifier of the mine, cutter or broker.

Insurance and Romance

Laser inscription is great for security issues. A few insurance companies offer discounts on premiums for inscribed diamonds, as they are more easily traced. It can also be a romantic gesture to inscribe your diamond with a personal message. Retailers will provide such a service for $40 to $150 dollars.