An automated small synthetic diamond screener has been evaluated by the ASSURE Program of the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) and passed all of the administered tests.
This means that all stones categorised by the instrument as “diamonds” were natural diamonds, all diamond simulants were correctly sorted out and all synthetic diamonds were correctly referred for definitive testing.
The Automated Spectral Diamond Inspection (ASDI) device was first released in 2014 by the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF, with the aim of protecting the Swiss watch and jewellery industry from being contaminated by synthetic diamonds of undisclosed origin.
There are currently more than 20 automated and non-automated devices available for the screening of large batches of colourless diamonds.
The ASSURE Program was launched by the DPA to assess the capability, reliability and accuracy of synthetic diamond screening instruments, with test results openly available on a dedicated website.
As part of the program, the ASDI system was subject to testing by an independent expert, UL Verification Services. The testing sample was composed of 1 000 natural diamonds, 200 diamond-simulants and 200 synthetic diamonds, with a diameter ranging from 1.0 mm to 3.8 mm.
The system passed all tests, screening out synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants, while operating at a speed of over 6 500 stones an hour.
The ASDI system is marketed by SATT Gems, a subsidiary of the Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF.