This invention presents a novel technology for microscale personalization of jewelry and gemstones by inscribing barcodes and QR codes using ultrashort pulsed lasers, focused ion beams, micromilling, and microdrilling. These methods address the limitations of traditional techniques on small, reflective, high-value surfaces, ensuring precise inscription without affecting aesthetics. A mobile application, paired with a clip-on zoom lens, scans and decodes the microcodes, linking them to personalized multimedia content hosted online. This creates a seamless fusion of physical items and digital memories, with strong potential in jewelry, luxury gifting, authentication, and emergency identification.
Figure (1) Sample micromachined bar code; (2) Sample micromachined QR code of a letter; (3) Sample micromachined complete QR code
Personalized jewelry and gemstones are in high demand, but current technologies struggle to inscribe and scan microscale barcodes and QR codes on such small and reflective surfaces. Traditional laser methods are limited by spot size, aesthetic degradation, and poor contrast on reflective metals. Additionally, existing mobile devices cannot easily scan these miniature codes without enhancement.
- Microscale Inscription Techniques: The technology utilizes advanced methods such as ultrashort pulsed lasers, focused ion beams, and micromechanical processes like micromilling and microdrilling to inscribe QR codes and barcodes at microscale precision. These methods enable accurate and durable marking on small, high-value items like jewelry and gemstones.
- Aesthetic Preservation: Unlike conventional laser markings that may create visible contrast, micromilling enables subtle, non-contrasting engravings. This maintains the original visual appeal and luxurious finish of the merchandise while still embedding the desired personalization.
- Mobile Scanning Integration: It includes a user-friendly mobile application that works with an affordable clip-on zoom lens. The app can scan and decode microcodes using image processing techniques, then link them to personalized content like text, videos, or audio hosted online.
- Dynamic and Editable Personalization: The personalized content linked to the microcodes is not fixed—users can update or modify their messages anytime via a secure website. This allows for evolving personal stories, changing greetings, or updated product information.
- Non-invasive and Material-Efficient: All engravings are only a few microns deep, which helps preserve the value and integrity of the precious metals or gemstones. This ensures that personalization does not compromise the physical or economic value of the item.
- Compact and Secure Digital Integration: The technology enables a compact digital identity for physical objects, supporting authentication, emotional connection, and anti-counterfeiting measures-especially valuable for luxury, gifting, and healthcare-related applications.
The prototype successfully demonstrates the creation of micro barcodes and QR codes on metallic and gemstone substrates using precision techniques like microdrilling and micromilling. A mobile phone application prototype has also been developed, capable of scanning and decoding these microcodes using image processing methods such as edge detection. Upon scanning, the application redirects users to personalized content-such as messages, audio, or video-hosted on a secure server, showcasing the complete functionality of the personalized jewelry system.
The physical systems are in place and the mobile app has been developed. It can be scaled up in collaboration with an interested party.
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This invention enables emotional personalization of gifts and keepsakes by embedding digital messages into jewelry and gemstones. It offers secure digital traceability and authentication for high-value items, helping reduce counterfeiting. The technology can also be adapted for emergency medical ID or memory tokens for seniors and patients, empowering users to link physical objects with customizable digital content.
- Jewelry and gemstone industry
- Luxury and personalized gifting
- Wearable medical alert devices
- High-value asset authentication
- Digital memorabilia and keepsakes
- Security and anti-counterfeiting technologies
Geography of IP
Type of IP
16/410,432
11,210,486