An apparatus and method for producing an authentication certification for a gemstone, having a processor, a database coupled to the processor, in which are stored data defining laser micro-inscriptions and physical characteristics of a plurality of gemstones, a graphic user interface (GUI) for interacting with and controlling the processor, and a computer output device, presenting in human readable form, information from the database describing for a respective gemstone the laser micro-inscription and physical characteristic information. The output is suitable for authentication of a presumptive gemstone. A corresponding method generates data for the database from the gemstone, and/or authenticates a laser-microinscribed gemstone based on previously stored data.