SourcingMay 14, 2024
Anglo American Confirms It Is Looking to Sell De Beers The mining giant also wants to offload its platinum business as part of an overhaul designed to “unlock significant value.”
GradingMay 03, 2017
GIA Sees Blue Diamond That’s Synthetic-Natural Composite
The 0.33-carat stone has a very thin layer of CVD-grown Type IIb diamond on top that earned it a grade of fancy blue.
This is the 0.33-carat fancy blue diamond that the Gemological Institution of America determined was a synthetic-natural composite. When asked about the color of the diamond--which does not appear to be all that blue--the GIA said pale colors are difficult to photograph. (Photo by Sood Oil (Judy) Chia.)
New York--The Gemological Institute of America reports that a mined white diamond with an extremely thin layer of blue lab-grown diamond on top was submitted to its New York laboratory recently.
According to an article published online now and slated for the summer print edition of “Gems & Gemology,” the 0.33-carat stone is a composite of CVD synthetic Type IIb diamond overgrowth on a natural Type Ia.
The lab-grown diamond layer is only 80 microns (0.003 inches) thick, but it’s enough for the diamond to grade as a fancy blue.
Though the GIA said the stone was not submitted as a lab-grown diamond, there were a few things that tipped off researchers.
As the article states, the diamond had both nitrogen and boron defects. Nitrogen defects are the most common defect found in natural diamonds, while boron is the element that gives diamonds a blue tint and is a rare impurity, which is why natural blue diamonds are so few and so valuable.
The GIA said it is “very unusual” to see these two elements together in a single diamond, as essentially what they were looking at was a mixed Type Ia and Type IIb diamond. The last time the GIA reported on one of these being found in nature was nearly 10 years ago, in the spring 2009 edition of “Gems & Gemology.”
Secondly, a detailed analysis conducted using the DiamondView machine showed a yellowish-green fluorescence zone at the top of the crown that had a clearly defined boundary visible along the interface layer on the crown facets.
This, combined with SiV- defects and phosphorescence, indicated to GIA researchers that the top layer was a diamond grown using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.
The bottom of the stone, meanwhile, displayed blue fluorescence but no phosphorescence in the DiamondView and had a strain pattern in the pavilion, both of which are consistent with a stone that is a natural Type Ia diamond.
This is the not the first diamond that’s a synthetic-natural combination.
The GIA noted in its research article that CVD diamond films have been applied to natural diamonds since the 1960s, and the successful addition of CVD-grown diamond layers on top of mined diamonds happened in 1993.
But this is the first synthetic overgrowth on a natural diamond with a fancy color grade that the GIA said it has ever seen.
As the lab put it
in an email to National Jeweler on Tuesday: “Although CVD has been experimentally used to grow over natural diamond, it is not a simple process to perform with a favorable result on a gem-quality diamond.”
That is, apparently, until now.
GIA Director of Research and Development Wuyi Wang, along with New York-based GIA researchers Kyaw Soe Moe, Paul Johnson and Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson, authored the article.
That is, apparently, until now.
GIA Director of Research and Development Wuyi Wang, along with New York-based GIA researchers Kyaw Soe Moe, Paul Johnson and Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson, authored the article.
More on Grading
The Latest
AuctionsMay 14, 2024
2 Huge Yellow Diamonds Are Heading to AuctionChristie's is selling one of the diamonds, moving forward with its Geneva jewelry auction despite the cyberattack that took down its website.
MajorsMay 14, 2024
Platinum Born Taps ‘Born Leaders’ for New CampaignThe ad aims to position platinum jewelry as ideal for everyday wear.
Brought to you by
Record Gold Prices Have Consumers Undeterred. Here’s Why.Despite the rising prices, consumers continue to seek out the precious metal.
AuctionsMay 13, 2024
Lab-Grown Diamond Brand Lightbox Cuts Prices by 25 to 40%The move follows a price-drop test run in Q4 and comes with the addition of a “quality assurance card” from GIA for some loose diamonds.
Weekly QuizMay 09, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these seven questions.
TechnologyMay 13, 2024
Christie’s Website Brought Down by Hackers, Watch Auction Postponed The site has been down since Thursday evening, just ahead of its spring auctions.
AuctionsMay 13, 2024
Madeleine Albright’s Jewelry, Pins a White-Glove Sale at Freeman’s | HindmanThe late former U.S. Secretary’s collection went for quadruple the sale’s pre-sale estimate.
Brought to you by
From Registration to Return: 10 Tips to Protect You Before, During and After a TradeshowTradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
IndependentsMay 13, 2024
Zachary’s Jewelers Names Mother’s Day Jewelry Contest WinnersThree fifth graders’ winning designs were turned into custom jewelry pieces in time for Mother’s Day.
IndependentsMay 10, 2024
Frank Adams Jewelers Names New CEOKimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
CollectionsMay 10, 2024
Piece of the Week: Carina Hardy’s ‘Birth of Venus’ NecklaceAs a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
MajorsMay 09, 2024
Watches of Switzerland Pays $130M for Roberto Coin Inc.The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
TrendsMay 09, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: Shine Bright, Moms Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
IndependentsMay 09, 2024
Kyle Edward Fine Jewelry to Close Salisbury StoreThe company’s Easton location will remain open.
MajorsMay 09, 2024
JBT Elects New ChairmanBrian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was elected to serve a one-year term in the role.
Supplier BulletinMay 08, 2024
Fusing Past and Present at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch ShowSponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
EditorsMay 07, 2024
Q&A: Author Vikki Tobak on the ‘Ice-Cold’ ExhibitionTobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
EditorsMay 07, 2024
10 On-Theme Looks from the 2024 Met GalaStars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
IndependentsMay 07, 2024
112-Year-Old New Orleans Business Popping Up in Aspen M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
MajorsMay 07, 2024
Richemont Acquires Italian Jeweler VhernierThe branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
CollectionsMay 07, 2024
These ‘Luminaries’ Are Set to Light Up CoutureThe six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
AuctionsMay 07, 2024
Sotheby’s to Auction Sylvester Stallone’s WatchesThe highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
CollectionsMay 07, 2024
Phillip Gavriel Pays Tribute to Venice With New CollectionThe “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
Events & AwardsMay 07, 2024
JA Now Accepting Applications for New Bench Jeweler ScholarshipThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
Policies & IssuesMay 06, 2024
Rolex Files Objection to Hallmark’s New Trademark ApplicationThe Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
EditorsMay 06, 2024
Q&A: 8 Questions With Anglo American’s Benny Oeyen The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
MajorsMay 06, 2024
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Opens 4th U.S. ShowroomThe Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
