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Synthetic Diamond Service to Boost Consumer Trust

De Beers Group has announced a new synthetic detection service as the diamond industry continues to bolster itself against the threat of undisclosed stones.

From: www.jewellermagazine.comDate: 2015-09-23 08:28:00Views: 507

De Beers Group has announced a new synthetic detection service as the diamond industry continues to bolster itself against the threat of undisclosed stones.

De Beers' International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR) will offer the synthetic melee screening and referrals testing service through its branch in Surat, India.

"Launching a new low-cost, high-volume service in India for screening synthetic melee and testing referrals will support both trade and consumer confidence as more businesses will be able to use our technology to provide greater assurance to their customers," IIDGR president Jonathan Kendall stated.

IIDGR commercial director Jamie Clark told Jeweller that the service was being launched in India due to the fact it was the largest centre for diamond cutting and polishing. "The service is therefore likely to be most in demand there," he explained.

Clark said there was no evidence to indicate undisclosed synthetic diamonds were more prevalent in India compared to other regions, noting that the service would provide "the opportunity to gather more information on the limited scale of undisclosed synthetic diamonds".

He added that a similar service would launch in Antwerp, Belgium; however, no specific date had been set at the time of publication.

Although the new equipment and technology that will be used to detect synthetic diamonds was recently on display at the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair, held from 18 September to 22 September, the service itself will not be available until October.

The IIDGR, which was established by De Beers in 2008, is a grading services and equipment provider for the global diamond industry. It has offices in Antwerp, Surat and Maidenhead in the UK.

Advancements in synthetic detection

De Beers isn't the only organisation working to increase transparency within the diamond industry.

WTOCD (the Antwerp Scientific Research Centre for Diamonds) has developed an automated melee screening device in collaboration with international grading laboratory HRD Antwerp.

The device, which is called M-Screen, is said to provide HRD Antwerp with a cost-effective way to identify synthetic, HPHT (high pressure, high temperature) colour-enhanced and simulated diamonds.

The equipment is reportedly able to feed, screen and sort round brilliant diamonds ranging in size from 0.01 to 0.20 carats at a speed of at least two diamonds per second.

"It's important that all natural, lab-grown diamonds, simulants and HPHT-treated diamonds are identified in order to sustain trust throughout the diamond pipeline," WTOCD director Yves Kerremans commented.

It was said that HRD Antwerp would commercialise the M-Screen device and that the laboratory was additionally planning to provide a melee screening service using the equipment from its Antwerp branch.

Surat-based business Dharmanandan Research Centre (DRC Techno) also launched a synthetic diamond detection device called D-Secure earlier this month.

Founded in 1976, HRD Antwerp is believed to be one of the largest diamond grading laboratories in the world. Its primary shareholder is the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, a non-profit foundation that represents the Belgium diamond industry.

WTOCD was founded in 1977 to provide technical support to, and develop manufacturing equipment for, the Belgian diamond industry.

 

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