​The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has recently developed a synthetic diamond detector named DiamondCheck™, aiming to strengthen general consumers’ confidence in purchasing diamonds.

DiamondCheck™ can examine diamonds from one point to 10 carats ranging from D to N colour. With the use of absorption spectroscopy and GIA-developed software for automatic data interpretation, the instrument can identify natural diamonds and refer stones that may be treated or synthetic for further testing. It can also identify non-diamond materials such as cubic zirconium or moissanite.

It is reported that De Beers is also developing an Automated Melee Screening Device which can feed and examine 500 carats of melee from one point to 0.2 carats at a time. GIA’s executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer Thomas Moses stated: “While DiamondCheck™ examines one unmounted stone at a time, the testing time is about 5 to 10 seconds per stone.” He also emphasised: “The instrument will refer 100 percent of all synthetic diamonds in the D-to-N range. Diamonds out of that range, including fancy colours, will not yield accurate results. We should also note that treatments like laser drilling are detectable only through gemmological examination.”

GIA is now leasing the instrument at no cost to diamond bourses in New York, Mumbai, Dubai, South Africa, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Tel Aviv. DiamondCheck™ is also available to the industry at US$23,900.

The article was published on Hong Kong Jewellery Magazine March 2014 edition.