IGI Announces 600 Synthetic Colorless Diamonds Sold As “Natural”!

by antoinettematlins on May 23, 2012

By now I assume there are very few people who haven’t read about the parcel of 600 colorless and near-colorless diamonds that were purchased as “natural” diamonds and submitted to a laboratory for certification, only to learn that they were all synthetic (that is, produced in a lab/factory rather than in the earth).

I must admit, however, that I’m more concerned about how surprised the gem and jewelry trade appears to be by this news.  People following all of the changes occurring in the diamond field should have been expecting such “news”!

It was for this very reason that the AGA (Accredited Gemologists Association) organized the important conference it’s holding in Vegas: to address the issues that people in the field need to know in order to begin to address them. What is clear from the reaction to this recent news is that there is a much greater need than we realized in terms of getting out all of the issues so they are in plain view: new treatments, new coatings, new synthetic diamonds, production issues pertaining to the availability of natural diamonds in the long term, and so on. At every level of the diamond industry, from mining to retailing, more people need to have a clearer understanding of what is in the market, detection information, along with knowing –now–whether or not we currently have the means to detect what is out there. In short, what does the “future” look like, and how will it affect us.

For example, there is a new instrument being tested at this very moment, which we are hoping will provide an affordable solution to detection. Gemesis synthetic diamonds as well as CVD diamonds from a couple sources, and natural diamonds treated with advanced HPHT techniques, are all currently being tested with this equipment. Hopefully we’ll have results of its effectiveness in time for the AGA “Future of Diamonds” conference in Vegas, along with a prototype of the equipment for participants to see and use.

If you’re as concerned as I am, and if you’re going to be in Vegas, I sure hope you’ll MAKE time for this particular conference. In my opinion, it may be the most important conference we’ve ever organized.  In fact, the room for the event was changed to accommodate more people as a result of the response, but I’ve learned that even with the larger space, we only have room for 30 more people. So if you plan to attend, I recommend that you register online now, or call 619 501-5444.

The conference is being held the day before the JCK show opens, on May 31, from 1:00-5:00 at the Mirage Hotel. For more information, visit www.accreditedgemologists.org.

antoinettematlins
Antoinette Matlins is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert and well-known author and lecturer. Often seen on CNN, ABC, NBC, and CNBC offering important consumer information, Matlins devotes much of her work to education and consulting within the trade. Former Gemology Editor for National Jeweler for almost a decade, she is the author of many highly acclaimed books on gems and jewelry, including Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide (now in its Seventh edition). Other popular books by Matlins include Gem Identification Made Easy; Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Jewelry & Gems At Auction; and The Pearl Book (www.GemstonePress.com).
antoinettematlins
Antoinette Matlins is an internationally respected gem and jewelry expert and well-known author and lecturer. Often seen on CNN, ABC, NBC, and CNBC offering important consumer information, Matlins devotes much of her work to education and consulting within the trade. Former Gemology Editor for National Jeweler for almost a decade, she is the author of many highly acclaimed books on gems and jewelry, including Jewelry & Gems: The Buying Guide (now in its Seventh edition). Other popular books by Matlins include Gem Identification Made Easy; Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Colored Gemstones: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide; Jewelry & Gems At Auction; and The Pearl Book (www.GemstonePress.com).

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