The Great Debate: Natural Vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds

De Beers has invested tens of millions of dollars in synthetic detection equipment, and will continue to invest in providing true innovative solutions.

In this, our second partnership with Rapaport for a special supplement, the focus is on the topic of synthetics. There has been much discussion in the past year with regard to synthetics in the diamond pipeline. IIDGR has for many years provided the industry with the key equipment to detect synthetics.

Whether it’s grading laboratories such as the GIA, manufacturers, traders or retailers, they have all benefitted from the use of our equipment, especially DiamondSure and DiamondView.

As a business, De Beers has invested tens of millions of dollars in synthetic detection equipment, and we will continue to invest so that our extensive research and development teams provide true innovative solutions in the years ahead.

In March, for example, IIDGR will launch its newest groundbreaking equipment, version 2 of the Automated Melee Screening (AMS2). This excellent new machine is far faster than its predecessor, can test fancy shapes, and, in addition, tests extremely small diamonds down to 0.003 cts. across the whole color spectrum to 100% accuracy.

Our scientists have developed new approaches to testing for synthetics in the past couple of years, and this has delivered some incredible improvements in terms of referrals. The percentage of referrals is below 0.5%, which means that the industry will not have the problem of having to carry out further testing on the vast majority of goods.

This is an industry first, and makes this machine hugely valuable compared to others on the market today. In addition, IIDGR has developed a melee testing service in our laboratories in the UK, Belgium and India. This new service is being used extensively by industry leaders, including the world’s largest watch company, and other major brands and retailers.

The IIDGR has one core focus: support the diamond industry with services that will maintain both trade and consumer confidence in our wonderful products. We look forward to working with more of you
in the future.