Rapid Testing Method for Identifying Treated, Synthetic Pink Diamonds

Researchers at Gemology Headquarters International (GHI) found that in electro conductivity tests natural pink diamonds consistently had higher conductivity than treated and synthetic diamonds.

GHI, which specializes in identification of High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) treatments, was searching for a method for identifying natural pink diamonds accurately and cost effectively.

The research utilized a sample set comprised of 176 pink diamonds ranging in size from 0.01 to 4.02 carats with varying color saturation, both loose and mounted.

The 98 natural pink diamonds were mined in Australia, Africa and South America.  The remaining stones consisted of 38 commercially treated pink diamonds (irradiated and annealed, treated with multi-step processes, and coated with a new deposition method) and 47 laboratory-grown (irradiated and annealed) pink diamonds. 

GHI used existing analytical tests as building blocks to develop a new Cross-Reference Identification System (CIS).

A complete presentation of the research will be delivered this month at the European Diamond Conference in Berlin, Germany.