Trophy and method of making same

Abstract

A trophy according to the invention includes a large (e.g., at least 500 carats) semiprecious gemstone (e.g., amethyst, aquamarine, calcite, fluorite, quartz, and rose quartz) upon which an image is etched. After the desired stone is selected, it is sculpted into the desired shape and polished. A viewable image is then etched on the stone. The presently preferred method of etching is to cover the stone with a protective tape, vaporize a portion of the tape with a laser according to a desired pattern where the laser also marks (etches) the stone under the vaporized tape, ball blast the etched parts to make the etching deeper, and then remove the remaining protective masking material. If desired, the stone is placed on a tablet or pedestal, preferably also made from a semiprecious gemstone or mineral, on which an additional image may be etched or otherwise added.

1 . A trophy, comprising: 
 a sculpted semiprecious gemstone which is etched with an image that is visible to the naked eye at arm's length.    
     
     
         2 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is at least 500 carats.    
     
     
         3 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tablet or pedestal upon which said gemstone rests.    
     
     
         4 . A trophy according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said tablet or pedestal is made from a semiprecious gemstone.    
     
     
         5 . A trophy according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said tablet or pedestal is etched with a text image.    
     
     
         6 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is sculpted in the form of a sphere.    
     
     
         7 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is sculpted in the form of an ellipsoid.    
     
     
         8 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is sculpted in the form of a polyhedron.    
     
     
         9 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said image includes an image of text.    
     
     
         10 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said image causes the gemstone to assume the appearance of another object.    
     
     
         11 . A trophy according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said image causes said gemstone to assume the appearance of a baseball, a football, or a golf ball.    
     
     
         12 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said image includes a logo.    
     
     
         13 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is translucent.    
     
     
         14 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is chosen from at least one of amethyst, ametrine, aquamarine, calcite, citrine, fluorite, quartz and rose quartz.    
     
     
         15 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said image is a negative image which generates a relief image.    
     
     
         16 . A trophy according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is polished.    
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising: 
 sculpting a semiprecious gemstone; and    etching said semiprecious gemstone to form an image thereon, the image being large enough to be visible to the naked eye at a distance of at least arm's length.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said gemstone is translucent and chosen from at least one of amethyst, ametrine, aquamarine, calcite, citrine, fluorite, quartz and rose quartz.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , said image includes an image of at least one of a text and a logo.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 affixing said gemstone to a tablet or pedestal.