Sri Lankan gemological scientist innovates ‘one of world’s most powerful’ gem analysis microscopes

A Sri Lankan gemological scientist has unveiled a high-magnification digital microscope designed to enhance analysis speed and reveal internal features far beyond the reach of conventional dimensions. The innovator believes this innovation could strengthen transparency throughout the country’s gem and jewellery industry. Milinda Edirisinghe, founder of the Gemological Report of Ceylon (GRC) laboratory in Colombo, said the microscope is the result of two years of research and development to overcome the optical limitations of conventional gemological microscopes. According to Edirisinghe, the new system consists of four digital microscope models capable of magnifications of 450x, 600x, 1000x, and 1440x, allowing gemologists to examine microscopic internal features, or inclusions, with substantially greater clarity than conventional laboratory equipment. These models are named by Edirisinghe as the Don Berry 450x, Don Berry 600x, Don Berry 3rd Eye 1000x, and Don Berry 3rd Eye 1440x. Milinda Edirisinghe “The biggest limitation in gemology has always been what the microscope could actually reveal,” Edirisinghe said in an interview. “Simply increasing magnification was not enough. Many internal features remained difficult to observe clearly, forcing laboratories to rely on indirect analytical techniques and expert interpretation.” He further stated that these advanced microscopes will reveal many previously undiscovered aspects of gemology to the world. Gemological laboratories routinely use advanced analytical methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and other spectroscopic techniques to identify gemstones, determine treatments and analyse internal characteristics that cannot easily be resolved through optical examination alone. Edirisinghe said this innovation enables much clearer visual observation of inclusions, crystal structures and other internal characteristics. One of the other significant benefits, he said, is the ability to dramatically reduce examination time, as the system’s ultra-high magnification and exceptionally clear images allow gemologists to swiftly analyze stones and identify internal inclusions. “Microscopic examination of a single gemstone could previously take anywhere from 2-3 minutes to few hours, often hampered by poor vision and forcing us to guess the inclusion type most of the time,” he said. “With the new system, a complete examination can often be completed in less than a minute.” The microscope incorporates high-resolution digital imaging, allowing photographs and video recordings of internal gemstone features to be captured, archived and incorporated into laboratory reports. Edirisinghe said the digital records also improve traceability and provide permanent documentation for future references. The system is also designed to integrate artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis. It captures exceptionally clear, ultra-high-quality images of inclusion structures, which are fed into the AI system to be precisely tallied and matched with existing images. According to Edirisinghe, the AI software compares these captured inclusion patterns with an expanding database of reference images to assist gemologists in identifying mineral inclusions and geological characteristics associated with particular gemstone types and origins. Edirisinghe believes the technology could have implications beyond laboratory testing. More detailed identification of internal features may enable jewellery manufacturers to classify gemstones with greater confidence, improve quality assurance and adopt more transparent pricing strategies for premium jewellery, he said. He also says that improved documentation could increase consumer confidence by providing more comprehensive certification of high-value gemstones and diamonds. According to Edirisinghe, most gemological laboratories in Sri Lanka currently use microscopes offering optical magnification ranging from around 90x to 180x, although microscope configurations and capabilities vary between laboratories. His new system combines optical and digital technologies to achieve higher effective magnification while simultaneously capturing digital images. As a veteran gemological scientist with over two decades of experience in gemstone mining, trading and geological research, Edirisinghe said he developed the microscope using specially imported Japanese optical components after numerous prototype modifications. He has also collaborated with gemological laboratories in Thailand during his research. He said the newly established GRC laboratory aims to raise the standard of gem certification in Sri Lanka by combining advanced microscopy, digital documentation and AI-supported analysis to produce more detailed laboratory reports. Edirisinghe invites gemologists, jewellers, exporters and researchers to evaluate the technology through live demonstrations, saying independent assessment by industry professionals will ultimately determine its value to the sector.