Oh how I wish again, to be back in Michigan. Welcome Greg!
For creative purposes, Father and I own and operate a fine jewelry manufacturing in the metro-detroit area servicing jewelers near and far. As an A-Z operation we are also laser enabled working from and with delicate repairs to creating contrast surface markings... photos to follow.
Laser etched photo into yellow gold
Laser on silver
Had a busted ancient sulemani convex short bicone I'd epoxied and skewered to make the ring in the photos. 18k yellow gold on silver.
Via Laser those are 3mmX1mm, our cutter has a bed thats 18inchesX18 with a capacity to process silver, platinum, gold, stainless steel up to 3mm thick.