GIA to Give WFDB Bourses Synthetic Detection Machines

Ernie Blom

(IDEX Online News) – In the next step in the fight against undisclosed synthetic diamonds, the GIA is to make synthetic diamond detection machines available to bourses belonging to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).

The agreement was announced by Ernie Blom, president of the WFDB, and Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer.

The WFDB said it is committed to enforcing its stand of “zero tolerance” in the non-disclosure of synthetic stones. “The assistance offered by GIA with making these machines available to member bourses will be of great assistance in the detection of illegal mixing of synthetic and natural diamonds,” the organization said in a press release.

“The WFDB extends its gratitude and appreciation to GIA and reiterates that all persons in the value chain need to work together to protect the industry and ensure consumer confidence.”

The Israel Diamond Exchange said on November 20 that the GIA was providing its Technology Division with one of the machines for the use of all bourse members.