IndependentsMay 01, 2024
Harwell Godfrey Opens First StoreIt is located in Marin County, California.
GradingJan 27, 2014
GIA’s synthetic detection device debuts
The Gemological Institute of America has developed, and will sell to the trade, a screening device for the detection of lab-grown as well as high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) treated diamonds.
With its software loaded onto an attached PC or Mac, the DiamondCheck scans stones and displays one of three results on the computer’s screen: the diamond inserted is a natural diamond, is a diamond but needs further testing, or is not a di
New York--The Gemological Institute of America has developed, and will sell to the trade, a screening device for the detection of lab-grown as well as high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) treated diamonds.
Unveiled to members of the trade press Monday at the GIA’s New York laboratory, the table-top device, called the DiamondCheck, is about the size of a toaster oven and can be used to test diamonds from one point to 10 carats in size.
It takes a single stone at a time. The diamond is inserted table down via a small black hatch that slides open at the top of the device, which is a Thermo Scientific Fourier transform infrared spectrometer loaded with GIA software developed using years of diamond data.
The machine gives users one of three results about the inserted stone: it is a natural diamond; it is a diamond but should be referred to a lab for further testing because it could be synthetic or treated; or it is non-diamond material such as moissanite or cubic zirconia, though the device does not specify the type of material.
GIA Senior Vice President of Laboratory and Research Tom Moses said Monday that the device is 100 percent accurate if used properly.
The GIA is leasing the DiamondCheck to eight bourses worldwide at no cost, beginning this week with the New York bourse and then going on to bourses in major trading centers worldwide including Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Shanghai and Dubai, among others.
In addition, GIA Instruments will sell the DiamondCheck, which is priced at $23,900, to interested members of the trade and any bourses that require more than one machine. Moses said a number of diamond dealers and “major retailers” have inquired about buying the device, though he declined to give any specific names.
In exchange for the devices, the bourses, which will operate the DiamondCheck using an internal employee trained by the GIA, will send the machines’ data to the GIA, which will use it to broaden its understanding on the type and number of synthetics on the market.
The undisclosed mixing of synthetics with natural, mined diamonds, in melee specifically, has been an issue in the trade for the past several years, particularly after a parcel of hundreds of undisclosed synthetics turned up at the International Gemological Institute’s facility in Antwerp in the spring of 2012.
Yet the truth is that no one entity
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
has any hard data about the quantity of synthetics on the market, and the technology for growing diamonds is constantly evolving.
Moses mentioned Monday that the GIA recently came across a diamond grown using the CVD process that was Type Ia. Up until that point, lab-grown diamonds were Type IIa.
“What we get back from this is more spectra, more experience,” said GIA board member and scientist Rodney Ewing, the Frank Stanton professor in nuclear security at Stanford University.
The GIA’s DiamondCheck device joins other synthetic detection devices already on the market.
In the late 1990s, De Beers’ research and development arm introduced the DiamondSure and DiamondView machines, which are used in grading labs worldwide, including at the GIA.
The diamond miner and marketer also developed a synthetic melee detector in recent years that can batch test melee.
A De Beers spokeswoman said Tuesday that the company is now in the process of manufacturing the Automated Melee Screening Device and will lease it to sightholders in the second quarter and provide one to the International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research laboratory in Antwerp later in the year, which would be open to the general trade.
While the DiamondCheck can test diamonds as small as one point and generally takes less than 10 seconds to scan a stone, the machine’s one-at-a-time loading function is not ideal for dealers wanting to test large parcels of melee.
Moses said the GIA could add an automatic feed capability to the DiamondCheck in the future, making it easier to test large batches of melee.
For now, though, the lab focused on immediately supplying a tool to help alleviate market fears about undisclosed synthetics entering the supply pipeline. “We really wanted to come up with a solution that we could get out to the industry as soon as possible,” Moses said.
More on Grading
The Latest
SurveysMay 01, 2024
Consumer Confidence Falls in AprilConcerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
TrendsMay 01, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: All Eyes on EmeraldsMay’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Brought to you by
Rio’s Reimagined Podcast: For the Love of JewelersMeet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
SourcingMay 01, 2024
Opsydia Names New Sales and Marketing Director Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Weekly QuizApr 26, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these seven questions.
CrimeMay 01, 2024
Grand Jury to Hear Case Against Jeweler Charged in Fatal Shove Following IJO ShowLast month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
CollectionsApr 30, 2024
12 Otherworldly Pieces From Tiffany & Co.’s 2024 Blue BookThe “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
Brought to you by
The Blueprint for Success in Scalable, Personalized Jewelry RetailWith Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
MajorsApr 30, 2024
Zales Celebrates 100 Years With New CampaignThe brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
MajorsApr 30, 2024
Platinum Guild International Appoints New CEOTim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
Events & AwardsApr 30, 2024
Canadian Jewellers Association Brings Back the Summit It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Recorded WebinarsApr 29, 2024
Watch: Diamond Identification and Evaluation - How to Protect your BusinessSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
SourcingApr 29, 2024
De Beers to Move Auction HQ from Singapore to BotswanaSales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
CollectionsApr 29, 2024
Simone I. Smith Mixes Denim and Diamonds in New Collection“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
IndependentsApr 29, 2024
Venus Jewelers Relocating After 45 YearsThe retailer is moving to a newly designed space in the same shopping center.
SurveysApr 29, 2024
Mother’s Day Jewelry Spending to Reach $7B, Says NRFGifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
CollectionsApr 26, 2024
Piece of the Week: Jacquie Aiche’s Starry Galaxy NecklaceThe necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
Events & AwardsApr 26, 2024
AGS Conclave and GIA Symposium Are ConvergingThe two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.
SourcingApr 26, 2024
Anglo American Reportedly Shopping De Beers as BHP Eyes Anglo Big changes appear to be on the horizon for the diamond miner and its parent company, Anglo American.
Events & AwardsApr 25, 2024
Alexis Padis Takes Over as AGS Board President Padis succeeds Lisa Bridge, marking the first time the organization has had two women board presidents in a row.
EditorsApr 25, 2024
5 Tips for Creating Fans from the Top (Savannah) Banana Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment, shared the “five Es” of building a fan base during his AGS Conclave keynote.
WatchesApr 25, 2024
Audemars Piguet and John Mayer Partner on Limited Edition WatchThe Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar "John Mayer" was celebrated at a star-studded party in LA last week.
SourcingApr 25, 2024
De Beers Lowers Production Guidance for 2024The announcement came as the company reported a 23 percent drop in production in Q1.
MajorsApr 25, 2024
Detroit Lions’ QB Jared Goff Keeps Going to JaredThe three-time Pro Bowler continues to partner with the retailer, donating to a Detroit nonprofit and giving watches to fans.
CrimeApr 24, 2024
Jewelry Crime Declines Significantly, But Dollar Losses Remain High A double-digit drop in the number of in-store crimes was offset by a jump in off-premises attacks, JSA’s 2023 crime report shows.
CollectionsApr 24, 2024
Pippa Small Announces ‘Venus’ CollectionInspired by the Roman goddess of love, the designer looked to the sea for her new collection.
FinancialsApr 24, 2024
Kering’s Jewelry Brands a Bright Spot in Tough Q1The luxury titan posted declining sales, weighed down by Gucci’s poor performance.
