A laser engraver, in the jewellery and gemmology context, is a bench-top machine that uses a focused pulsed laser beam to ablate a thin layer of material from a metal, stone or polymer surface and so leave a permanent visible mark. In the modern workshop the dominant technology is the fibre laser, generally running at 20-50 W of average power with nanosecond pulse widths, although ultraviolet and femtosecond systems are used for diamond inscription and for high-value coloured stones where heat damage must be minimised.

Within jewellery production the engraver is used for hallmark marks, maker's marks, brand logos, personalisation engraving on the inside of bands, and fine surface texture work on signet rings. In gemmology its principal use is laser inscription: the application of a laboratory report number, a brand identifier or an anti-fraud microcode along the girdle of a polished diamond or coloured stone, generally at a depth of only a few microns so that subsequent re-polishing has the option of removing the inscription if needed.

The machines are CAD-driven, accept vector and raster artwork, and require operator-grade safety enclosures because the open beam can cause serious eye injury. The output is repeatable, suitable for production runs, and considerably more economical than equivalent hand engraving for volume work, although it does not replace skilled hand-cut engraving where dimensional depth and tool-mark character are required.