S. Africa Exchange Receives DiamondCheck Machine From GIA

(IDEX Online News) – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has presented a synthetic diamond detection machine to the Diamond Dealers Club of South Africa.

The South African bourse is the third to receive this equipment developed by the GIA for the industry earlier, following the Diamond Dealers Club of New York and the Israel Diamond Exchange.

The GIA, in collaboration with the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) announced at the end of last year that they would be making the machines available to the 28 WFDB member bourses at no cost in order to aid with the detection of synthetic diamonds.

Ernie Blom, chairman of the Diamond Dealers Club of South Africa, received the machine on behalf of the club in Johannesburg from GIA Vice President and Director of Global Research and Laboratories, Tom Moses.

“This initiative forms part of the pro-active strategy employed by the diamond industry worldwide to ensure consumer confidence in diamonds,” Blom commented.

The GIA’s Dr Mike Breeding gave an explanation about the development and technology that went into creating the machine.

The GIA is providing diamond bourses with its machines for free use by exchange members following industry concerns sparked by several cases of the mixing of synthetic diamonds with natural mined stones.