In an industry where synthetic diamonds are on the rise, trust and transparency are key to safeguarding the confidence between diamond traders, retailers and consumers alike. But how do you differentiate natural diamonds from lab-grown ones when their optical, physical and chemical properties are identical
Differentiating laboratory grown from natural diamonds is
becoming more and more difficult, and therefore more
important. Entrusting your stones to a professional grading
lab is one way to ensure your parcel of natural diamonds is
not contaminated by synthetic specimens. But when it
comes to large amounts of melee diamonds, investing in
your own screening equipment is far more advantageous.
To that end, HRD Antwerp commercialized the D-tect
device developed by GGTL, the Swiss independent gemological institution. This state-of-the-art detection tool
complements the superfast M-Screen+ device, making it
possible to unveil the true nature of a diamond at a
staggering speed and indisputable precision.
What you need to know about the D-Tect
The D-Tect is the best possible solution for the final and
very crucial step in the detection of lab-grown diamonds. It
provides a decisive analysis for stones that require further
testing after being screened by the M-Screen+, or any other
screening device.
The D-Tect is a non-automated, compact table model,
suited for both mounted or loose diamonds (D-to-Z) of all
shapes and sizes. It's a truly pioneering piece of equipment,
using UV luminescence imaging combined with Raman
spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It goes
without saying that this method is non-destructive and will
not damage the stones in any way.
How it works
The D-Tect is easy to use and does not require a degree in
gemmology, geology, or physics. The detection process
consists of 5 simple steps which only take a few minutes
each before providing you with a definitive result.
Step 1: Place the diamonds that need further testing in the
small circular container. A combination of UV
luminescence and laser spectroscopy illuminates the stones.
Step 2: Observe the diamonds through the oculars
and you will see that the UV luminescence triggers
fluorescence in the stones, whilst the laser sensor
reveals the different spectra of the diamonds.
Step 3: The first detection phase is complete: natural
diamonds are identified and separated from stones that
require one more test.
Step 4: The separated stones are once again placed in de
circular container and undergo a cooling treatment with
liquid nitrogen. This final test delivers even more
accurate spectra, and with that, a definitive verdict.
Step 5: The nature of each stone is now completely
unveiled. Thanks to the D-Tect you can rest assured that
you know which stones are natural diamonds, lab-grown
diamonds, or simulants.
Why it's worth investing
By investing in your own screening and detection
equipment, you save your company time and money
since the amount of diamonds that need further
disclosure by a grading lab is significantly reduced. The
technology behind the equipment is highly secure and
offers the same guarantee as a grading lab when
separating natural diamonds from lab-grown diamonds
and simulants.
The sophisticated D-Tect is available for order. Discover
its full specs on hrdantwerp.be/equipment.
Should you need more information, please contact HRD
Antwerp Chief officer Equipment :
marc.thomassen@hrdantwerp.com or +32 3 222 06 23