This month, MJSA Journal features an article on diamond detection, offering buyers tips for investing in synthetic diamond screening technology. This companion article lets you know the main features of the some of the diamond screening devices currently on the market.
D-Screen • D-Secure Plus • EXA • DiamondCheck • iD100 • J-Secure Plus • M-Screen • SDS II • Yehuda Diamond Detector
D-Screen Portable Diamond Screening Device
HRD Antwerp
32-3-222-06-11
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
This device can just test one diamond at a time.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
It can screen only loose stones.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Not applicable.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
It will screen diamonds going from D–J. No simulants.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
Yes.
What is the result output?
Green indicator: the stone is not synthetic and not HPHT color-enhanced
Orange indicator: the stone may be synthetic (lab-grown) or HPHT color-enhanced, requiring further examination in a lab.
Red indicator: low-battery voltage or defective device.
What are the dimensions of the device?
40 mm by 50 mm by 150 mm
Is it portable?
Yes, it’s compact and user-friendly.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
It offers 100 percent accuracy when a diamond is natural and hasn’t been treated. Referral stones require further testing in a diamond lab.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Requires no specific training.
What is the price of the tester?
€ 1,820 ($2,243)
D-Secure Plus
DRC Techno
91-261-2530-457
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
Multiple. As many as can fit onto the examination tray.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
It tests loose stones.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Not applicable.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
No.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
Yes.
What is the result output?
Pass/Fail.
What are the dimensions of the device?
15 inches by 12 inches by 15 inches
Is it portable?
No.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
98.6 percent
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Minimal training required. Initial training takes less than one hour.
What is the price of the tester?
$11,999
EXA - The Natural Diamond Detector
Magilabs
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
One.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
No.
What is the result output?
Referral rate is just below 2 percent.
What are the dimensions of the device?
23 cm by 21 cm by 13 cm (9 inches by 8 inches by 5 inches)
Is it portable?
Yes, it features a tilting handle for placing it in different positions.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
It refers 100 percent of all synthetic diamonds.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Requires no training. The user points the fiber at the stone and waits for the pass or refer result.
What is the price of the tester?
€ 6,700 ($8,254)
GIA DiamondCheck
GIA Instruments
1-800-421-8161
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
One.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
It tests only loose stones.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Not applicable.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
Yes.
What is the result output?
The examined stone receives one of three results: natural diamond, diamond requiring further testing (it may be synthetic or treated), and non-diamond material (e.g., moissanite or cubic zirconia; material type is not specified).
What are the dimensions of the device?
26 cm by 35 cm by 28 cm (10.25 inches by 13.8 inches by 11 inches)
Is it portable?
No.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
Very accurate—it identifies HPHT and CVD synthetic diamonds and simulants, as well as HPHT treated natural diamonds. It will refer 100 percent of all colorless synthetic stones in the D-to-N range.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Requires very little training.
What is the price of the tester?
$23,900
GIA iD100
GIA Instruments
1-800-421-8161
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
One.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
It distinguishes natural diamonds from synthetic (HPHT and CVD) diamonds and diamond simulants. The device currently refers HPHT-treated natural diamonds; this capability is still being developed.
What is the result output?
The two results are: Pass (natural diamond) and Refer (potential synthetic diamond or a diamond simulant; further testing required).
What are the dimensions of the device?
165 mm by 200 mm by 80 mm (6.5 inches by 7.87 inches by 3.15 inches)
Fiber probe length: 400 mm (15.74 inches)
Is it portable?
Yes.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
Very accurate. It will refer 100 percent of man-made diamonds and simulants.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
It’s easy to operate, following the video on GIA’s site.
What is the price of the tester?
$4,995
J-Secure Plus
DRC Techno
91-261-2530-457
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
Thousands. As many as can fit onto a tray.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
No.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
Yes.
What is the result output?
Pass/Fail.
What are the dimensions of the device?
23 inches by 23 inches by 25 inches
Is it portable?
No.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
98.6 percent
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Minimal training is required. Initial training takes less than one hour.
What is the price of the tester?
$20,999
M-Screen Melee Screening Device
HRD Antwerp
32-3-222-06-11
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
It screens three diamonds per second (approximately 11,000 diamonds per hour).
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
It can screen only loose stones.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Not applicable.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
It will sort out diamond simulants.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
Yes.
What is the result output?
All stones will end up in one of four colored bins. Stones in the yellow bin need re-screening either due to poor positioning or the fact that they stuck together. Diamonds in the green bin are 100 percent natural. Diamonds in the red bin are possibly lab-grown and/or color-treated and need further testing. Diamonds in the blue bin are either out of specs or diamond simulants.
What are the dimensions of the device?
45 cm by 56 cm by 30 cm
Is it portable?
It is a compact tabletop model.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
It offers 100 percent accuracy when a diamond is natural and hasn’t been treated. Referral stones require further testing in a diamond lab.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Requires no specific training.
What is the price of the tester?
€78,000 ($96,122)
Synthetic Diamond Screener II (SDS II)
Presidium
65-6771-9760
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
One.
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Yes, it has an open-back stone setting.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
It detects type IIa diamond, which are typically HPHT and CVD grown.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
No.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
It will read Type Ia diamonds (representing 98 percent) as Natural, and Type IIa (representing 2 percent) as Natural and Synthetic (HPHT, CVD).
What is the result output?
Two color-coded indicator light bars. Blue light for Natural results. Red light for Type IIa diamonds.
What are the dimensions of the device?
130 mm by 100 mm by 65 mm (5.12 inches by 3.94 inches by 2.65 inches)
Is it portable?
Yes, it comes with a protective carrying case.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
Accurate if testing under the recommended usage perimeters: D – J color grade; 0.02 ct. – 10 ct. size; all cuts with a flat surface.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
Minimal training required. Users learn the operations through tutorial videos.
What is the price of the tester?
$599
Yehuda Diamond Detector
Yehuda Diamond Company
1-800-934-8320
How many diamonds can be tested at one time?
Multiple
Does it test loose and mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it test both open and closed-back mounted stones?
Yes.
Can it detect both HPHT and CVD lab-grown diamonds?
Yes.
Will it screen/refer diamond simulants?
No.
Will it screen/refer HPHT color-treated natural diamonds?
No.
What is the result output?
Synthetic.
What are the dimensions of the device?
20 cm by 15 cm by 11.5 cm (8 inches by 6 inches by 4.5 inches)
Is it portable?
Yes.
What type of accuracy does the device offer?
99.8 percent.
What type of training and/or user skill level is required?
10 minutes. Anybody can work with it.
What is the price of the tester?
$4,995