Jeweller - 2019 Synthetic Diamond Detector Report

VOICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN JEWELLERY INDUSTRY

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SAMS GROUP 

AUSTRALIA

EDITORIAL 

THINKING PINK: SUNSET VERSUS SUNRISE 

One of the world’s most amazing diamond 

mines is set to close at the same time the 

diamond industry is in upheaval. 

Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine, located in remote 

Western Australia about 2,600km from Perth 

– and billed as the ‘world’s biggest’ mine – will 

cease production next year. First established 

in 1983, the mine became famous for high 

quality ‘pinks’ and ‘reds’. 

Argyle is responsible for producing about 90 

per cent of the pink diamonds on the market. 

The mine has had a fascinating history, and 

not just because of its stones. In the 1990s, 

Argyle decided to challenge the might of 

De Beers and was, eventually, the catalyst 

for the collapse of De Beers’ diamond supply 

monopoly. 

Today, Argyle is an internationally recognised 

brand, one that garners the maximum 

premium for its product. The Australian mine 

is not the only source of pink stones, but it is 

recognised as the best – without equal. 

While the two are unrelated, it is an interesting 

coincidence that Argyle’s imminent closure 

(sunset) is happening at the same time the 

synthetic diamond market is gaining traction 

(sunrise), although the latter still represents 

just two per cent of all diamond sales. 

Indeed, De Beers helped kickstart consumer 

attention on man-made diamonds when it 

launched Lightbox last year, a collection of 

so-called ‘laboratory-grown’ diamonds. The 

only surprise about the diamond behemoth’s 

move was its timing; many people wondered 

why it took so long. 

However, what really threw the cat among 

the pigeons was the fact that it introduced 

a linear pricing model; a quarter-carat stone 

retails at US$200, a half-carat US$400, and 

US$800 for a one-carat. It makes sense, 

after all: they are man-made and quality 

can be controlled. 

In addition, De Beers’ ‘laboratory-grown’ 

diamonds do not undergo grading, further 

strengthening the view that the quality/ 

grading variance inherent in natural stones – 

and for which consumers pay varying prices – 

further strengthens the argument that quality 

can be controlled during the manufacturing 

process just like in any other factory. 

The company’s position is simple: one labgrown 

diamond is no better or worse than 

any other in the line-up. Another fair point, 

however, in order to create a sizeable market 

niche for man-made stones, many other 

manufacturers are partaking in a good oldfashioned 

land grab. 

While the mined diamond industry has 

been held accountable for its practices and 

ethics for decades, and rightly so, the manmade 

market has been enjoying a period of 

unquestioning media coverage – often by 

consumer media – and celebrities ready to 

accept any claim made by the many so-called 

‘eco-friendly’ brands. 

Their claims about ‘lab-grown’ diamonds 

IN THE 1990S, 

ARGYLE 

DECIDED TO 

CHALLENGE 

THE MIGHT 

OF DE BEERS 

AND WAS, 

EVENTUALLY, 

THE CATALYST 

FOR THE 

COLLAPSE 

OF DE BEERS’ 

DIAMOND 

SUPPLY 

MONOPOLY 

having superior sustainability and lesser 

environmental impacts are too often 

unchallenged. For a start, because something 

is sustainable doesn’t make it good, in a similar 

way that a natural or organic product is not 

automatically good for you. 

Swallow some ‘natural’ arsenic or eat a raw 

potato and see what happens! 

Likewise, the claim that man-made diamonds 

are sustainable, in the sense that they avoid 

the depletion of natural resources in order 

to maintain an ecological balance, is highly 

questionable given the natural resources – 

that is, fossil fuels – used to run these factories. 

And let’s be clear, these diamonds are 

manufactured under factory-like processes 

– unlike the impression that the name 

‘laboratory-grown’ conjures up. 

So, putting aside all the science and 

nomenclature, the eco-friendly claims, 

marketing jargon and snake oil salesmen, 

can anyone rightfully argue that you can 

compare a one-carat pink diamond, mined 

from the remarkable red earth in remote 

outback Australia and whose colour origin is a 

still a mystery today, to a one-carat synthetic 

pink diamond bombarded with radiation in a 

De Beers factory? 

If you would like to try, I have a bridge for 

sale in Sydney! 

Coleby Nicholson 

Managing Editor 

August 2019 Jeweller 9

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Ph: +61 (0) 3 9654 5200 / Interstate Orders 1300 843 141 E: sales@oagems.com www.oagems.com

SYNTHETIC DETECTORS REPORT 

The diamond detectors: 

searching for truth 

THE NUMBER OF SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS PASSED OFF AS NATURAL 

STONES IS INCREASING – YET MANY JEWELLERS STILL LACK THE 

TECHNOLOGY TO TELL THEM APART. ARABELLA RODEN REPORTS 

ynthetic diamonds have been one of the most controversial categories 

of the jewellery industry in decades. More so than any other simulant, 

lab-grown stones have called into question the intrinsic value of 

natural diamonds, as well as directly competing with lower quality 

and melee stones. 

Synthetic diamonds have been available for decades, but their application in 

jewellery – as opposed to industrial use – seemed limited up until recently. With 

technological breakthroughs to create gem-quality stones and a significant 

marketing push, combined with lower pricing, it’s estimated that they represent 

about 2 to 3 per cent of the total diamond jewellery market today. 

The debate around whether synthetics are innovative or disruptive – that is, if 

have they fundamentally changed the natural diamond market – continues, 

with various industry commentators believing the stones will either return to the 

industrial niche or maintain a significant segment in the jewellery category, albeit 

at the lower end of the price scale. 

The controversy over nomenclature reflects the broader ambivalence of the 

industry in embracing lab-grown diamonds – as well as the need for clarity when 

it comes to retailing these stones. 

At the CIBJO Congress ten years ago, the term ‘synthetic diamond’ was considered 

to be the most appropriate descriptor; yet manufacturers have continued to use 

alternatives such as ‘lab-grown’ or ‘created’ – which many in the industry have 

criticised as misleading to consumers, obscuring the factory origin of the crystals. 

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses both ‘synthetic’ and ‘laboratorygrown’; 

however, it does not grade synthetic diamonds on the same scale as 

natural stones, using general terms to describe the colour and clarity. 

Significantly, the 6,000 members of the world’s largest online diamond trading 

platform, RapNet, voted in June this year to uphold the ban on synthetic diamond 

trading through the system. Synthetics are also banned at many of the world’s 

major diamond bourses (see figure on page 26). 

However, many industry experts believe the ‘tipping point’ for the industry has 

already arrived. It is now almost a year since De Beers entered the synthetic 

diamond market with its Lightbox brand, pricing the stones at US$800 per carat – 

about 15 per cent of the value of natural diamonds. In addition, De Beers’ prices its 

lab-grown stones on a linear model due to the lack of intrinsic or resale value. 

The price differential between the two categories has widened. In March, the 

wholesale price for lab-grown stones fell 60 per cent, with De Beers’ CEO Bruce 

Cleaver calling the margins ‘unsustainable’. Still, diamond industry analyst Paul 

Zimnisky has predicted the sector will enjoy an annual growth rate of 22 per cent 

to US$5.2 billion by 2023. 

The consumer appeal for these stones is predicated on two factors. The first is 

cost, with purchasers able to buy a larger stone for less or colours like blue, pink 

and green at a fraction of the price natural fancy colour diamonds command. 

The second factor is perceived ethical superiority. Earlier this year, the US Federal 

Trade Commission sent warning letters to eight high-profile synthetic diamond 

companies, warning them against using nebulous terms like ‘eco-friendly’, 

‘sustainable’ and ‘eco-conscious’, as well as mandating ‘clear and conspicuous’ 

disclosure of lab-grown origin. 

The rise of synthetic diamonds has coincided with a greater consumer push 

for transparency, traceability and sustainability – or at least, the appearance of 

it. Many synthetic diamond manufacturers have touted their environmental 

credentials, without informing consumers of their energy-intensive processes. It 

has been noted that no conservation group has endorsed a synthetic diamond 

manufacturer, in similar ways as they have done with electric vehicles. 

THE CHALLENGE OF UNDISCLOSED SYNTHETICS 

However, there is one factor on which all sides of the diamond debate can agree: 

that natural and synthetic diamonds need to be differentiated. 

Ernie Blom, president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, has said, “They 

[synthetic diamonds] should always be disclosed so that consumers know exactly 

August 2019 Jeweller 25

SYNTHETIC DETECTORS REPORT 

what they are buying, and so that there is no confusion between real natural 

diamonds and lab-growns.” 

Worryingly, the GIA has encountered synthetic diamonds mixed in packets with 

natural diamonds, as well as natural stones coated in a synthetic layer to increase 

their size or change their colour. 

Hong Kong Diamond 

Bourse, China 

BANNED 

Federatie der Belgische 

Diamantbeurzen, 

Belgium 

UNDER REVIEW 

Closer to home, Bill Sechos, founder of Sydney’s Gem Studies Laboratory 

(GSL), says, “We are now getting, on a semi-regular basis, parcels of melee from 

importers and retailers that are submitted for routine testing to see if there are 

any questionable stones. In one particular instance, nine out of 10 parcels, each 

containing 10 sample stones, proved to have questionable diamonds in them.” 

“In the last six months we have seen three larger stones – a 50-pointer, an 

83-pointer and 1.10-carat – that were submitted for diamond grading reports that 

proved to be synthetic. In all three cases they were not disclosed as synthetic,” he 

adds. “Fortunately, in two of the cases the diamonds were returned to suppliers 

overseas; but in the case of the 1.10-carat, it was bought second-hand and was not 

able to be returned.” 

For many jewellers, diamond certification from the GIA, the European Gemological 

Laboratory or the Scientific Gemological Laboratory can help to establish the 

legitimacy of a stone, and preserve its value to the consumer. However, the 

system isn’t foolproof; indeed, the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) 

maintains a list of potentially compromised GIA certificates on its website. 

Recently, the BBC reported that synthetic diamonds with falsified natural 

certification were being advertised on the Chinese online market Alibaba. As 

a result, the WFDB cautions traders from accepting diamonds with suspiciouslooking 

paperwork or without a physical copy of the certificate. 

Laser-carving a microscopic GIA serial number into the surface of a natural stone 

is another technique used to ensure integrity – however, this carving can be 

removed by polishing and/or another gem’s serial number applied. British start-up 

Opsydia has developed a laser that can etch a security code inside a diamond so 

it can’t be tampered with. Similarly, US company Scarselli Diamonds has recently 

filed patents for its DiamTek nano-laser tagging system, which would register each 

tagged diamond’s unique code in a secure blockchain. 

But in both cases, the technology is not yet at scale; it simply won’t be applied 

to every single mined diamond as it is polished, nor to every single natural stone 

currently in the market. 

Provenance measures like DeBeers’ GemFair and Tracr initiatives have also been 

adopted to stem the flow of synthetics being passed off as natural, as well as 

address consumer concerns about conflict diamonds. GemFair ensures point of 

origin by storing rough diamonds in sealed, tamper-proof bags at the mine, while 

Tracr uses blockchain ledger technology during the manufacturing process. 

Yet the fact remains that jewellers may require more than certification to know if a 

diamond is genuinely natural. That’s where synthetic detectors come in. Synthetic 

detectors collect different types of data, including visual and light clues, when 

examining diamonds to determine if they can either conclusively be considered 

natural or synthetic, or if they should be referred to a gemmologist. 

“The best advice for jewellers – especially those in a position to buy second hand 

diamonds or importing directly from overseas – is to invest in a screener as a 

safeguard against making the wrong decision,” Sechos explains. “All screeners reject 

stones that are suspect. These then have to be further tested to identify whether 

they are synthetic diamonds or not; if the screener refers the stone for further 

testing, it would be advisable to avoid it.”. 

Diamond Dealers Club, 

New York City, USA 

UNKNOWN 

Dubai Diamond Exchange, UAE 

ALLOWED – HOSTED FIRST 

SYNTHETIC TENDER IN 2019 

Bharat Diamond Bourse, 

Mumbai, India 

BANNED SINCE 2015 

The 

Diamond 

Bourse 

Perspective 

TELL-TALE SIGNS OF LAB-GROWN DIAMONDS 

Shanghai Diamond 

Exchange, China 

UNKNOWN 

Israel Diamond Exchange, 

Tel Aviv, Israel 

BANNED SINCE 2014, 

BUT UNDER REVIEW 

THE WORLD FEDERATION OF DIAMOND BOURSES TAKES A NEUTRAL STANCE ON SYNTHETIC 

DIAMONDS, WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER BOURSES DECIDING IF THEY WILL ALLOW THEM – OR NOT 

There are two methods to produce synthetic diamonds: high-pressure, high 

temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD). While chemically 

identical to natural diamonds, synthetics display a different growth structure. They 

are also used to produce the most rare types of diamonds: those with low nitrogen 

content, called Type II. 

“The colourless synthetic diamonds in the marketplace are Type II, so it is 

becoming more and more important to have a screening device that can 

differentiate between Type I and Type II diamonds to protect against unknowingly 

buying a synthetic diamond,” Sechos explains. 

Each method carries its own signatures of manufacturing, rather than Earth origin, 

ranging from the type – or lack of – inclusions to level of fluorescence under UV 

light, internal patterns, and colour zoning, among other traits. While diamond 

simulants such as synthetic moissanite, white sapphire and cubic zirconia can 

be identified with simple lab tests, a hand lens, and even with the naked eye, 

synthetic diamonds require sophisticated equipment to detect. 

“There are no discernable differences to the naked eye or under magnification that 

the diamond being examined is a man-made one,” Sechos says. “Visible features 

and properties that can be investigated using normal diamond testers and loupe 

or microscope examination are not different from a natural diamond; there are no 

‘red flags’ or warning signs which are immediately visible – instrumentation must 

be used.” 

The crucial element in delivering peace of mind is empowering jewellers to detect 

synthetic diamonds, allowing them to decide for themselves how they will interact 

with this controversial category. i 

Read on to discover more about the manufacturers of synthetic diamond 

detectors and choose which screener fits your needs – from portability to 

number of stones, speed and price – with Jeweller’s buying guide. 

26 Jeweller August 2019

.. 

 

Sydney Brisbane London 

New Zealand 

Melbourne 

Tokyo Mumbai Florence Stuttgart Chicago

DIAMOND DETECTORS 

ADVERTISEMENT 

RICKY SHAH 

Business 

Development 

Manager 

DRC TECHNO 

ESTABLISHED: 2012 

OFFICES: India, USA, Belgium, 

Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia 

Based in Surat, India, DRC Techno 

is a non-profit company founded 

to actively engage in research 

and development of technologies 

and solutions for the diamond 

manufacturing and jewellery 

industry. It also participates and 

conducts social welfare activities in 

the area where it operates. Its team 

includes gemmologists, scientists, 

IT specialists and electrical and 

mechanical engineers. 

When was DRC Techno founded and how 

has the company developed over time? 

Our story started back in 2006, when fewer 

international players were responding ontime 

to our parent company’s suggestions 

to improve existing diamond tools and 

machinery. We decided to create a low cost, 

local and fast responding not-for-profit 

research and development centre, which 

began in 2012. Initially, we started with 

diamond manufacturing machines for bruting 

and sawing; gradually, we became the world’s 

foremost synthetic (CVD/HPHT) diamonds 

research company, which now provides a 

solution at every price point. 

What have been the biggest achievements 

in the company’s history? 

In 2014, the Surat diamond industry came to 

a standstill because of the fear and distrust 

that was in the air due to undisclosed mixing 

of lab-grown diamonds with naturally mined 

diamonds. DRC Techno assembled a talented 

team of engineers, scientists and market 

analysts to tackle this problem. 

After rigorous research and constantly trying 

to figure out how to overcome the challenge 

– and facing numerous failures – we finally 

had the world’s foremost offering for 

identifying lab-grown diamonds from natural 

diamonds, the D-Secure. We really felt that 

we had saved the industry and that was our 

biggest achievement. 

After the success of our first product offering, 

there was no looking back; our drive towards 

protecting the industry grew twofold. In a 

very short span we became an international 

company from just being a local Surat 

company. Our work has been appreciated 

and has won many awards over the years, 

including two India SME Awards, an IEDRA 

Award and the 2018 JNA Honouree Award for 

Industry Innovation of the Year. 

How big is the company today? 

The DRC Group – DRC Techno, DRC Infotech 

and Innovseed – consists of close to 100 

employees. DRC Techno has provided its 

offerings and solutions in 27 countries, 

proudly having more than 1,000 happy 

and satisfied customers – more than 

60 per cent of which were referred to us 

by existing customers. 

What are the core values of DRC Techno? 

What sets the company apart from others? 

DRC Techno believes in and is strongly guided 

by six core values: creativity, integrity, learning, 

fun, excellence and respect for all. Our mission 

is to become the most admired, self-sufficient 

social enterprise – that has kept us grounded 

as well as helped us aim for the sky. 

Alongside the latest innovations, tailored to 

meet different budgets and requirements 

of the marketplace, we constantly refine 

our existing offerings such as our Chain of 

Custody software, and develop new strategies 

to curb the variable challenge of identifying 

new generations of synthetic diamonds. 

One initiative is our library of new synthetic 

diamonds. We have given more than 20 

software updates to date to protect our 

customers’ trust and business; these features 

set us apart from our competitors. 

Over and above that, we are unique in our 

development of a support programme 

superior to all others – we offer 24-hour 

global service. 

Why did DRC Techno decide to create 

synthetic diamond detectors? 

As shared earlier, in 2014, the diamond 

industry discovered the severe problem 

THE IDEOLOGY 

AND THE SENSE 

OF PURPOSE WAS 

CLEAR, ALONG 

WITH THE PASSION 

TO PURSUE 

A SOLUTION 

AND BECOME 

THE WORLD’S 

FOREMOST 

SYNTHETIC 

DIAMONDS 

RESEARCH 

COMPANY 

of undisclosed mixing of man-made 

diamonds with naturally mined diamonds. 

An atmosphere of fear, panic and distrust was 

created among the diamond merchants and 

traders in Surat – where more than 92 per 

cent of the diamonds from all over the world 

arrive for processing and polishing. 

Amid such chaos, DRC Techno rose to the 

challenge of exposing unethical business 

practices and protecting the diamond 

industry. 

The ideology and the sense of purpose was 

clear, along with the passion to pursue a 

solution and become the world’s foremost 

synthetic (CVD/HPHT) diamonds research 

company by launching the pioneering 

invention – the D-Secure. 

Why should retailers invest in a synthetic 

diamond detector? 

In the jewellery industry, the most important 

aspect I believe is consumer trust. The reason 

why consumers purchase their jewellery is 

deeply connected to emotions. The consumer 

deserves to be well informed and to have 

tested products of natural origin, nothing less 

than that. For retailers, having trusted testing 

equipment protects their own brand. 

What are the most important attributes for 

a retailer when purchasing a detector? 

Retailers have to look for the accuracy of an 

instrument, how easy it is to operate, and how 

simple it is to interpret the results. 

Efficiency and cost effectiveness are also very 

important. Next is the after sales service from 

the manufacturer and how much effort that 

company is investing into research. 

Finally, the retailer needs to consider the 

motives of that company and if their 

values align. 

PH: +91 990 9990 8 +91 261 2530 457 

www.drctechno.com 

® 


DIAMOND DETECTORS 

ADVERTISEMENT 

YEHUDA 

DIAMOND 

COMPANY 

When was Yehuda founded and how has 

the company developed over time? 

Zvi Yehuda Ltd was founded by my father, 

Mr Zvi Yehuda and his father Ben Zion 

Yehuda in 1953 in Israel. Yehuda Diamond 

Company – an associated company – was 

founded in New York in 1988 by myself and 

my brother Roni Yehuda. 

DROR YEHUDA 

President 

ESTABLISHED: 1953 

OFFICES: Israel, USA and Belgium 

Founded by Zvi Yehuda in 

Tel Aviv 66 years ago, Yehuda 

remains a family company to 

this day. Over the decades, it has 

pioneered techniques in diamond 

manufacture, from cleaning to 

laser drilling, irradiating for colour, 

and clarity enhancement. Today 

it produces both natural clarity 

enhanced and synthetic diamonds, 

as well as synthetic detectors. 

What have been the biggest 

achievements in the company’s history? 

Wow – that’s like asking a parent which kid 

he loves the most! The ones which I believe 

stand out were all invented by my dad, Zvi 

Yehuda, who was completely self-taught. 

He was himself the son of a diamond 

manufacturer, so we have very strong ties to 

this industry that go back generations. 

The first invention that I think was very 

significant was the laser drilling of 

diamonds in order to take out the black 

piques, which he created in 1965. 

Next, in 1977, was the rough diamond 

Five years later came the Yehuda Clarity 

Enhancement Process. This process hides 

fractures – called feather inclusions – in a 

diamond by inserting a minute amount of 

material that has the same refractive index 

as the diamond into the fracture. 

Thus making it invisible– it is still there but 

you just can’t see it after the process. This 

allows us to cut much larger stones than 

other companies as we don’t need to cut 

to remove inclusions. All the extra size, 

weight and beauty can be enjoyed by the 

consumer at no extra cost. 

Finally, in 2017 we created the Sherlock 

Holmes detector for CVD and HPHT lab 

grown diamonds. 

How big is the company today? 

We have offices in Tel Aviv, New York and 

Antwerp, and agents in Mumbai, Italy and 

Hong Kong. 

What are the core values of Yehuda? 

What sets your company apart 

from others? 

Our main rule is always to be different. 

Always lead and be innovative. Throughout 

our history we have always found ways to 

improve and use technology to create the 

best product. 

If we could not set ourselves apart, we 

would not be here! We deal in natural 

diamonds, Yehuda clarity-enhanced 

diamonds, lab-grown diamonds and 

technology for diamonds. In each area we 

do things differently than the others. We 

always try to be different and lead the pack. 

We also have a long history and a proud 

heritage, as we are a family company 

with several generations working within 

the business. 

Why did Yehuda decide to create 

synthetic diamond detectors? 

The need was there from the first day they 

became available. If the industry cannot 

distinguish between natural and lab-grown 

diamonds, it could be the end of the 

diamond industry as it will not be trusted 

anymore. Trust is key for our industry and it 

is on the line here. 

OUR MAIN RULE 

IS ALWAYS TO 

BE DIFFERENT. 

ALWAYS LEAD AND 

BE INNOVATIVE. 

THROUGHOUT 

OUR HISTORY WE 

HAVE ALWAYS 

FOUND WAYS TO 

IMPROVE AND USE 

TECHNOLOGY TO 

CREATE THE BEST 

PRODUCT 

able to come up with the most accurate 

detector and the most affordable one. 

We figured that the only way to protect 

this industry is to enable the whole supply 

chain to have it – now dealers, wholesalers, 

manufacturers, appraisers and jewellery 

stores can protect themselves with the 

Sherlock Holmes Detector for CVD and 

HPHT lab-grown diamonds. 

Why should retailers invest in a synthetic 

diamond detector? 

For every reason I’ve mentioned: keep 

yourself at the forefront of our industry, 

make sure you sell what you think you sell, 

and protect your name, your reputation 

and your customers. If you buy from the 

public or take in a repair, save the future 

accusations and check everything with 

Sherlock. Sherlock is your best friend. 

What are the most important 

attributes for a retailer when purchasing 

a detector? 

The Sherlock Holmes was found by the 

Diamond Producers’ Assocation’s Project 

ASSURE to detect 100 per cent of lab-grown 

diamonds tested. 

The Sherlock Holmes is easy to use – it’s 

user-friendly and fast, and it is lightweight, 

at 2.5kg, and portable. It can check 

individual stones, large parcels, jewellery 

pieces and multiple rings together. 

It detects simulants like loose moissanites 

and cubic zirconia, even if they are coated 

with a diamond layer, and the results can 

be sent by email or Bluetooth and saved 

in your Google Drive. The price is only 

US$6,495 (AU$9,228). 

colorimeter, which predicts the colour of 

a rough diamond once the stone is cut. 

Before that, people would just guess! 

We understood that we needed to make 

a detector that was very accurate and not 

too expensive at the same time. We were 

PHONE: + 1 212 221 5985 

www.yehuda.com 


THE SHERLOCK HOLMES 2.0 

Lab-Grown Diamond Detector 

Only $6,495 USD 

Project ASSURE: 

The Sherlock Holmes 

detected 100% of all lab grown diamonds. 

Scan the QR Code below to read the full report of the Assure Program 

performed by UL Laboratories, and see for yourself. 

+1-212-221-5985 | WWW.YEHUDA.COM

SYNTHETIC DETECTORS BUYING GUIDE 

D Secure Plus 

Launched in 2017, the D Secure Plus is the advanced, updated version of DRC 

Techno’s first synthetic diamond detector, the D Secure. This screener offers a 

professional solution with one-click auto-process operation for high capacity 

analysis of loose diamonds. 

J Mini 

This portable, semi-automatic detector was launched just two months ago 

at JCK Las Vegas 2019. It is DRC Techno’s most cost effective and portable 

instrument, featuring a ‘one click’ process that makes it ideal for jewellers on 

buying trips. It can analyse both loose and mounted stones. 

ACCURACY: 98% 

SIZE (cm): 33.5(w) x 30.5( d) x 40.5(h) 

WEIGHT: 22kg 

PORTABLE: No 

DIAMOND ® SIZE: 0.003+ carats 

FEED OF STONES: Manual 

MULTIPLE STONES: Yes 

SET JEWELLERY: No 

SPEED: 45 to 60 seconds per scan. 

PRICE: US$11,999 

ACCURACY: Variable 

SIZE (cm): 16.5(w) x 25(d) x 15.5(h) 

WEIGHT: 6kg 

PORTABLE: Yes 




SET JEWELLERY: Yes 



® 

DRC TECHNO 


® 

DRC TECHNO 


J Smart Pro 

Another new addition to the DRC Techno detector family, the J Smart Pro 

debuted at JCK Las Vegas 2019 in June. It is the advanced version of the original 

J Smart and comes with integrated fluorescent light for easy on-screen analysis 

and interpretation. It also has a 360-degree auto-rotate function to scan 

eternity rings and bangles with ease. 

J Detect 9000 

A mid-range manual diamond detector, the J Detect 9000 identifies any 

number of loose or mounted diamonds that can fit in its 12.5cm x 12.5cm tray. 

Suitable for experienced gemmologists and diamond examiners, the detector’s 

purchase price includes a Windows 10 laptop. 

ACCURACY: 98% 

SIZE (cm): 41(w) x 39.5(d) x 47.5(h) 

WEIGHT: 30kg 

PORTABLE: No 







ACCURACY: Variable 

SIZE (cm): 31.5(w) x 27.5(d) x 38(h) 

WEIGHT: 14kg 

PORTABLE: No 





SPEED: 25 to 30 seconds per scan 


® 

DRC TECHNO 


® 

DRC TECHNO 



GIAiD100 

This detector is based on the GIA’s 60 years of diamond and gemstone 

identification research. It can distinguish HPHT and CVD diamonds, as well 

as simulants. It’s strength lies in its ease of use – the ‘Pass’ or ‘Refer’ results are 

displayed in less than two seconds. However, it does not detect simulants such 

as cubic zirconia or synthetic moissanite. 

Sherlock Holmes 2.0 

Named after the legendary fictional detective, the Sherlock Holmes 2.0 

synthetic diamond tester instantly detects both CVD and HPHT diamonds, as 

well as being able to identify if natural diamonds have been colour-enhanced 

through HPHT. The bonus feature of the 2.0 model is the ability to detect loose 

diamond simulants cubic zirconia and synthetic moissanite. 

ACCURACY: 100% referred for further testing 


ACCURACY: 100% 


SIZE (cm): 16.5(w) x 20(d) x 8(h) 

MULTIPLE STONES: No 

SIZE (cm): 15 (w) x 24 (d) x 15 (h) 


WEIGHT: 1.02 kg 


WEIGHT: 2.2kg 


PORTABLE: Yes 

SPEED: 440 

PORTABLE: Yes 

SPEED: 530 stones per hour 

DIAMOND SIZE: 0.005+ carat 


DIAMOND SIZE: Any 


GEMOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA 

www.gia.edu/id100 

YEHUDA DIAMOND COMPANY 

www.yehuda.com 

Manufacturing quality gold jewellery since 1990 

Specialising in hollow, solid & silver filled gold pieces 

JAA IJF SYDNEY 

STAND C33 

WWW.GOLDENMILE.COM.AU 

Golden Mile Jewellery Manufacturers 

24 Kingsley Close, Rowville, Vic 3178 

sales@goldenmile.com.au 03 9753 3977

SYNTHETIC DETECTORS BUYING GUIDE 

DiamondSure 

DE BEERS GROUP INDUSTRY SERVICES 

The light, portable option from 

De Beers can detect both loose 

and mounted stones. Results are 

automatic, so there’s no result 

interpretation required. As this 

screener has a false-positive rate of 2 

per cent, the company recommends 

stones be referred for further testing 

with the DiamondView detector. 


SIZE (cm): 17(w) x 26(d) x 10(h) 

WEIGHT: 3.5kg 

PORTABLE: Yes 

DIAMOND SIZE: 0.005 to 10-carat 




SPEED: 193 


MORE INFORMATION: iidgr.com/innovation 

SYNTHdetect 


The latest addition to the De Beers 

screening range, SYNTHdetect is 

designed to test jewellery-mounted 

stones – though it can also be 

used for loose diamonds. It has 

a lower size limit than other 

De Beers detectors. 


SIZE (cm): 31(w) x 34(d) x 45.8(h) 

WEIGHT: 30 kg 

PORTABLE: No 





SPEED: 583 



DiamondView 


NEW COLLECTION 

COMING SOON 

Proudly distributed by 

This detector uses short-wave UV 

light to measure fluorescence, 

indicating whether a diamond in 

natural or CVD synthetic. It requires 

the operator to interpret the test 

results, so is best suited to retailers 

with experience in examining 

synthetic diamonds. 

ACCURACY: 100% 

SIZE (cm): 20(w) x 40(d) x 25(h) 

WEIGHT: 13 kg 

PORTABLE: No 





SPEED: 112 



02 9417 0177 | www.dgau.com.au

M-Screen+ 

HRD ANTWERP 

European diamond grading lab HRD 

Antwerp developed the M-Screen+. 

It is a fully automated desktop 

detector designed to screen very 

large quantities of stones at high 

speed – three diamonds per second 

– making it suitable for industrial use. 


SIZE (cm): 45(w) x 30(d) x 55(h) 

WEIGHT: 45kg 

PORTABLE: No 

DIAMOND SIZE: 0.005-0.20-carat 

FEED OF STONES: Automatic 


SET JEWELLERY: No 

SPEED: 12,317 


MORE INFORMATION: hrdantwerp.com 

Synthetic Diamond 

Screener II 

PRESIDIUM 

Presidium is an industry leader in 

gemmological tools. Its SDS II model 

is portable, affordable, and measures 

both loose and mounted stones. 

Lightweight and battery-operated, 

it is a convenient screener with easyto-understand 

colour-coded results. 


SIZE (cm): 13(w) x 10(d) x 6.5(h) 

WEIGHT: 0.21 kg 

PORTABLE: Yes 

DIAMOND SIZE: 0.02 to 10 carat 




SPEED: 240 

PRICE: US$599 

MORE INFORMATION: presidium.com.sg 

DiamondDect3 

TAIDIAM TECHNOLOGY 

Developed by China’s Taidiam 

Technology, the DiamondDect3 tests 

both mounted and loose diamonds, 

making it ideal for retailers. It will 

produce results of ‘Natural’, ‘CVD 

Synthetic’ or ‘Abnormal’, with the 

latter requiring further testing by 

a gemmologist. 

ACCURACY: 99.5% 

SIZE (cm): 22(w) x 20(d) x 12(h) 

WEIGHT: 3kg 

PORTABLE: Yes 

DIAMOND SIZE: 0.05 to 10 carat 




SPEED: 289 


MORE INFORMATION: taidiam.com 

+61 2 9266 0636 +61 2 9266 0969 

enquiries@ikecho.com.au 

www.ikecho.com.au

COLOUR 

IS VITAL 

THE VITAL SOURCE FOR NATURAL FANCY 

YELLOW DIAMONDS 

Wales Corner 

Suite 1204, 227 Collins Street 

Melbourne Victoria 3000 

Australia 

Ph: (03) 9639 1008 

Fax: (03) 9639 0179 

sales@vitaldiamonds.com.au 

www.vitaldiamonds.com.au 

OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN DIAMOND MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALING

Jeweller - 2019 Synthetic Diamond Detector Report

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