Gemological Science International (GSI) found undisclosed lab-grown diamonds in jewelry featuring natural brown diamonds.
The discovery came as the global jewelry market increasingly highlights off-color natural diamonds, such as brown and champagne shades, the organization said Tuesday. These hues are trendy and affordable alternatives to colorless gems.
“As the industry embraces natural brown diamonds, it is essential to safeguard their integrity in the marketplace,” said GSI president and cofounder Debbie Azar. “Our mission is to ensure consumer confidence by applying advanced science to protect retailers, manufacturers, and the trade — and to support the industry’s efforts to promote natural off-color diamonds with trust and transparency.”
The GSI carried out a thorough screening process using advanced technology that included Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), DiamondView imaging, and Raman spectroscopy with liquid nitrogen cooling. The organization confirmed that the lab-grown stones ranged from near colorless with faint brown modifiers to fancy dark brown.
The findings emphasized the need for thorough screening procedures and results disclosure to ensure the protection of industry shareholders and consumers, the lab stressed.
Image: Inside a GSI lab. (GSI)



