It will be available this year.
The Gemological Institute of America is introducing a desktop instrument to identify natural diamonds, separating them from all simulants and from diamonds that may be synthetic or treated.
The device will be priced “to be accessible to the trade,” according to a press release. It is scheduled to be available in late 2017. “There is perhaps no greater issue in the gem and jewelry trade today than concerns about the possibility of undisclosed synthetic diamonds being inadvertently sold to consumers,” said GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques. “This new instrument is the culmination of more than 60 years of GIA research into synthetic diamonds and will give the trade – including retail jewelers – the ability to have immediate confidence in their diamonds.”
Wuyi Wang, GIA’s director of research and development, demonstrated a functioning prototype of the instrument in Surat, India, on April 14 during the Diamond Detection Expo and Symposium sponsored by the Gem and Jewellery Export Council. GIA said it is conducting further research and development to extend the capabilities of the instrument to identify natural pink diamonds and other materials.
“Synthetic diamonds are becoming more prevalent in the market and, if they are disclosed, are a legitimate choice for consumers. GIA and other gemological laboratories play a critical role in ensuring that disclosure,” said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer.
According to the release, the instrument can identify more than 97 percent of untreated natural mounted and unmounted D-to-Z diamonds 0.9 mm or greater in diameter (approximately 0.005 carat). Diamonds that may be synthetic or treated and all simulants are referred for further examination and confirmation.
