Computer-implemented method of and system for teaching an untrained observer to evaluate a gemstone
A computer-implemented method teaches a user to evaluate a gemstone, such as a cut diamond. The method includes providing a computer system connected to an apparatus capable of capturing an image of a gemstone. The computer system is arranged to process a received image of a gemstone to determine one or more optical properties of the gemstone. In one aspect, the method presents on a display of the computer system a series of pre-stored screens comprising a graphical representation how the cut of a gemstone affects its light handling ability, and a user interface screen. The user interface screen allows the user to control the operation of the apparatus to measure the one or more optical properties of a particular gemstone provided to the apparatus, to view an image of the gemstone measured, and to view representations of the measured one or more optical properties.
1. A method of evaluating a gemstone, the method comprising:
(a) presenting, to a user via a user interface, at least one user interface screen for operating a gemstone evaluation system that is configured to:
i) capture images of the gemstone,
ii) determine at least three optical properties of the gemstone by at least in part processing a plurality of captured images,
iii) wherein the at least three optical properties are selected from the group of:
brilliance, scintillation, fire, and light symmetry,
iv) wherein the determination of the brilliance is based, at least in part, on a first analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images,
v) wherein the determination of the scintillation is based, at least in part, on a second analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images,
vi) wherein the determination of the fire is based, at least in part, on a third analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images, and
vii) wherein the determination of the light symmetry is based, at least in part, on a fourth analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images; and
(b) sending, by the user, utilizing the at least one interface screen, instructions to the gemstone evaluation system to perform an evaluation of the gemstone, hereby causing the gemstone evaluation system to:
i) capture the images of the gemstone, and
ii) determine each of the at least three optical properties based, at least in part, on the plurality of captured images.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising presenting, via the user interface, user interface screens for showing results of the evaluation.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (b) each of the plurality of captured images is captured under the same illumination arrangement.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluation comprises:
determining a measure for each of the at least three optical properties at least partially based on the plurality of captured images; and
assigning, based on the determined measures, at least one total score to the gemstone.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the user is a potential purchaser during a retail experience.
6. A gemstone evaluation system, comprising:
at least one specialized computer machine, comprising:
a non-transient memory having at least one region for storing particular computer executable program code; and
at least one processor for executing the particular program code stored in the memory;
wherein the gemstone evaluation system is configured to:
i) capture images of the gemstone,
ii) determine at least three optical properties of the gemstone by at least in part processing a plurality of captured images,
iii) wherein the at least three optical properties are selected from the group of:
brilliance, scintillation, fire, and light symmetry,
iv) wherein the determination of the brilliance is based, at least in part, on a first analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images,
v) wherein the determination of the scintillation is based, at least in part, on a second analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images,
vi) wherein the determination of the fire is based, at least in part, on a third analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images, and
vii) wherein the determination of the light symmetry is based, at least in part, on a fourth analysis of pixels of the plurality of captured images;
wherein the particular program code is configured to at least perform the following operations:
(a) presenting, to a user, via a user interface, at least one user interface screen for operating the gemstone evaluation system, and
(b) receiving, from the user, utilizing the at least one interface screen, instructions for the gemstone evaluation system to perform an evaluation of the gemstone, hereby causing the gemstone evaluation system to:
i) capture the images of the gemstone, and
ii) determine each of the at least three optical properties based, at least in part, on the plurality of captured images.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the particular program code is further configured to present, via the user interface, user interface screens for showing results of the evaluation.
8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the system comprises a gemstone measuring apparatus including an illumination arrangement, operative when each of the plurality of captured images is captured.
9. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the evaluation comprises:
determining a measure for each of the at least three optical properties at least partially based on the plurality of captured images; and
assigning, based on the determined measures, at least one total score to the gemstone.
10. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the user is a potential purchaser during a retail experience.
11. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the system comprises a gemstone measuring apparatus configured to capture the images, and wherein the determination of the at least three optical properties of the gemstone is performed remotely from the apparatus.