Branko Gems - Gemmological Research Industries Inc.

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“The Amber Experience”, published by InColor (Fall 2024)

Last May, I participated in a special Amber Experience organised by Amber Experts in Gdansk. The two-day custom-designed program provided me with exclusive access to normally inaccessible sites and insightful workshops, offering an unforgettable journey into the world of amber. The following are my thoughts on amber after my Amber Experience.

The Amber Experience

Webinar: The importance of gemstone testing

This webinar gives an insight about the history of gemstone deposits, treatments, and development of synthetics. It then goes into the parallel development of ways to detect these new trends, and gives hints of what the appraiser or gemologist can do with standard instruments. Covered are a range of selected gems, among them ruby, sapphire, and emerald.

Dr Lore Kiefert – FGA
January 17th, 8.30amPT, 11.30amET, 4.30pm London

BrankoGems exhibits at AGTA Tucson Gem Show, Feb 2-7, 2022

After a two-year break, we exhibited again at the famous annual event in the Arizona desert. It was a chance to catch some sun, see old friends from four continents, showcase and sign two new books on diamonds published by Gemmological Research Industries Inc in 2020 and 2021.

Branko Deljanin gave 1-on-1 mini-workshops to interested visitors and kids! A highlight was a private tour of the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum.

BrankoGems On-line Academy launched at the show INTERMEDIATE DIAMOND PROGRAM that contains a Documentary movie on “Laboratory-grown Diamonds – from Factories to Markets” based on 10 Webinars and book from October 2020 to March and Lectures on Colored Diamonds, Diamond Treatments, Instruments for ID of Laboratory-grown Diamonds: Branko Deljanin (CGL, Canada), Dusan Simic (AG&J, USA) and Miko Åström (MAGILABS, Finland)

ADVANCED DIAMOND PROGRAM contains 7 lectures based on the book ‘DIAMONDS, Natural, Treated and Laboratory-grown” 2021: John Chapman (Gemetrix, Australia), Dr Alexander M. Zaitsev (NY City University, USA), Dr Taijin Lu (NGTC, China), Dr Viktor Vins (VELMAN, Russia), Miko Åström (MAGILABS, Finland), Dr Thomas Hainschwang (GGTL, Lichtenstein/Switzerland) and Branko Deljanin (CGL, Canada).

We had solid interest for Mediterranean Gem and Jewellery Conference in northern Greece from August 12-14, 2022. A great program with many workshops and field trips to mines and gem deposits of North Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia are offered around the conference.

Gem-A Selects Branko Deljanin for Lab-Grown Diamond Identification Seminar

President and Head Gemologist at CGL Canadian Gemlab and Celebrated Diamond and Gemstone Author, Branko Deljanin, will present the “The Screening and ID of LGD with Portable Instruments” during Gem-A’ s November Online Conference

Canada, October 28, 2021… World renowned diamond and gemstone authority and accredited author, Branko Deljanin, B.Sc.(Geology), GG, DGA, FGA, DUG, has been selected by the Gemological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A) for their worldwide one-day webinar on November 7, 2021.Normally selling at £35.00 or $48.14 USD, the entire conference is offered for free to jewelry professionals. Join the hundreds who have pre-registered by visiting https://gem-a.com/event/conference-2021 and entering promo code; CONF21

Starting at 5:30pm ET (17:30 GMT) on Sunday, November 7, Branko Deljanin will present a fourty-five minute online seminar, “The Screening and Identification of Lab-grown-Diamonds (LGD) with Portable Instruments.” Sharing detailed diamond detection data from his soon-to-be-released book, Diamonds  – Natural, Treated and Lab-Grown, Branko shares peer-to-peer, lab-tested, and now recommended portable diamond detection equipment. Closing his live session, Branko will respond to questions from the global audience.

As the world’s longest established provider of gem and jewelry education, Gem-A recognizes portable, and affordable systems to detect if a diamond is lab-created or natural remains one of the most in-demand topics of today. With Branko’s decades of diamond expertise as President and Head Gemologist at CGL Canadian Gemlab, founder of Branko Gems, the Online Diamond and Gemstone Academy and the popular publisher of numerous diamond and gemstone educational books, his online presentations are as well received as his speaking engagements, in-person classes and online diamond courses.

The timing of this specific class couldn’t be better. With U.S. fine jewelers denoting 2021 as “their best year ever,” and the consumer holiday shopping frenzy in full-swing, busy jewelry retailers worldwide require a reliable means to ensure the diamonds they’re selling are mined or man-made. “Indeed, diamond retailers need a handy and accurate lab-grown diamond detector as much as diamond designers and positions though-out the mined and man-made diamond supply chain do,” noted Branko Deljanin. “I’m proud to be speaking during Gem-A’s November 7 online conference and look forward to sharing months of lab study, testing and evaluation to determine the leading diamond identification instrument options available today.”

Taken, in-part, from a chapter within Branko’s Winter 2021 release: Diamonds – Natural, Treated and Lab- Grown, Branko organized six of the world’s most respected diamond and gemstone laboratory scientists to test drive an array of diamond detection equipment from portable, pricing and production aspects. Yet diamond instrument testing results from these think tank experts are a mere sliver of the total gemological offerings in Branko’s latest book, available now with a limited-time, advance-ordering discount through www.BrankoGems.com.

For those expecting to experience Branko’s interactive diamond and gemstone lectures scheduled for The 6th annual Mediterranean Gem and Jewellery Conference (MGJC), which was to be held in Greece this year, that event is postponed to a June-July 2022 timeframe due to pandemic matters. While MGJC 2022 promises to be outstanding, it’s rescheduled date is yet another reason to reserve your place now at Gem-A’s online gem day and benefit from the free registration to Branko’s presentation at 5:30pm ET on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Visit https://gem-a.com/event/conference-2021 and entering promo code: CONF21

Provenance of Pink Diamonds – May/June 2020

Fancy colored diamonds are breaking all records at auctions for price paid per carat. Blue and red diamonds are considered the most expensive natural gems by weight in the world. Natural near-colorless diamonds originate from more than ten diamond-producing nations whose mines are owned by several big mining companies including Alrosa, De Beers and Rio Tinto. In addition, many other primary and alluvial deposits are sporadically mined by smaller companies in places like Brazil and Africa, even by family businesses.

If any of these mines ceased operation, it would likely not affect the world’s market value of near-colorless diamonds. In the case of pink diamonds, 90 percent of the world’s supply is mined from a single source, Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine in Australia.

Although operations at Argyle are currently underground, the mine’s production life is expected to run until late 2020. This limitation, combined with the rarity of pink diamonds, are contributing factors to skyrocketing prices approaching 15 percent compound per annum over the past ten years.

The demand for pink diamonds has increased in part due to the following factors (Deljanin 2014):

  • Exposure in mainstream media, most often in the form of famous celebrities buying pink diamonds as well as record-breaking prices at major auctions
  • Australia’s strict adherence to the Kimberley Process and the proven conflict free Australian origin of Argyle pinks supported by effective marketing by Rio Tinto
  • The overall rarity of pink diamonds compared to other colors
  • Closure of Argyle diamond mine in late 2020

This article aims to give an overview of natural pink diamonds from seven major producing countries on four continents. We suggest establishing a new class of “Argyle-type pink diamonds” with characteristic features using standard and advanced gemological instruments.

Branko_Deljanin-May_June_2020-Provenance_of_Pink_Diamonds.pdf

Comparison of portable instruments for screening and ID of Lab-Grown Diamonds

Considering the occurrence of undisclosed lab-grown diamonds, vigilance combined with the use of standard and advanced gemmological tools are critical to ensure confidence in the supply line. While well-equipped labs can identify such non-natural origin and issue a report accordingly, diamond dealers, gemmologists, appraisers and retailers need instruments that help them to screen natural and some cases identify lab-grown diamonds. There are an increasing number of detection instruments and machines (see table 1 below) on the market that use different methods for screening/detection, notably:

    • transparency to SW UV light
    • characteristic fluorescent/phosphorescent reaction to LWUV, SWUV and other UV light
    • Vis, PL, Raman, FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy
    • fluorescence imaging and other undisclosed techniques
Download Report

Comparison_of_portable_instruments_for_screening_and_ID_of_Lab-Grown_Diamonds.pdf

Advanced Diamond Workshops – Dubai, UAE

Day 1: November 23, 2019 (Saturday)
ID of Coloured Diamonds – Treated and Lab-grown

9am-12.30pm: IDENTIFICATION of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • BROWN diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • YELLOW and ORANGE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics, and identification
  • GREEN and CHAMELEON diamonds: source/producers, characteristics and identification
  • BLUE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • PINK/RED diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • Use of Synthetic Diamond ID Kit to separate Colored Natural and Synthetic Diamonds

PRACTICAL: Microscopy –inclusions for HPHT and CVD synthetics, UV lamp – colours of fluorescence/phosphorescence and Cross Polarized Filters (CPF) patterns for synthetic origin.

1.30-5.00pm: IDENTIFICATION of TREATED NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (fracture filling and coating)

  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (traditional lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  •  Processes for colour treatments of diamonds, natural and synthetic
  •  Color Enhancements – stable (irradiation, annealing, HPHT, multistep treatments)
  •  Post treatments of HPHT-grown and CVD-grown diamonds (irradiation)
  •  Identification methods for treated diamonds with advanced instruments at labs
  •  Grading of Colored diamonds with Munsell chips, masters using GIA and CGL-GRS system
  •  Certification of treated and synthetic diamonds at gem laboratories

PRACTICAL: Coloured Diamonds are tested with microscopes, mini UV lamps (PL inspectors), Gempen, portable polariscopes, Jewellery Inspectors and portable spectrometer (EXA) for origin

  • Portable “Synthetic Diamond ID Kit” (polariscope, lights, PL inspector), EXA machine available
  •  Certificate of completion will be issued to all participants

Day 2: November 24, 2019 (Sunday)
ID of Colourless Diamonds – Treated and Lab-grown

9am-12.30pm: IDENTIFICATION of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • Types of diamonds based on nitrogen and boron content
  • Colourless Natural diamonds: sources, characteristics and identification
  • Methods of growing HPHT and CVD diamonds
  • Inclusions in Natural and Synthetic diamonds
  • UV lamp – reaction of different types of diamonds under LW and SW UV light (“PL inspector”)
  • CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) method and instrumentation to screen and ID diamond’s origin

PRACTICAL: Samples of Ia, IIa, IIb, Ib diamonds (natural synthetic origin) are tested with microscopes, UV lamp (“PL inspector”), Mini Polariscope with light, EXA, Alrosa Diamond Inspector

1.30-5.00pm: SCREENING for TREATMENTS of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (fracture filling and coating)
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (traditional lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Testing and screening methods for treated diamonds with standard instruments
  • Post treatments of CVD-grown colorless diamonds (by HPHT press)
  • ID of HPHT-enhanced diamonds using advanced instruments
  • ID of mounted synthetic diamonds with EXA, Alrosa Inspector and screening instruments
  • Problems and solution in identification of melee natural and synthetic diamonds

PRACTICAL: Colorless Diamonds are tested with microscopes, mini UV lamps, portable polarioscopes, Gempen and portable spectrometer (EXA) for natural, treated or synthetic origin

  • Portable “Synthetic Diamond ID Kit”, Alrosa Diamond Inspector, EXA machine are available
  • Certificate of completion will be issued to all participants

 

Day 3: November 25, 2019 (Monday)
Practical Intense Seminar: Screening & ID of Diamonds

Morning (9:00 AM to 12:45 PM): ID of Colourless Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)

  • Colourless Natural diamonds: sources, characteristics and identification
  • Methods of growing HPHT and CVD diamonds
  • Inclusions in Natural and Synthetic diamonds
  • UV lamp – reaction of different diamonds, loose/mounted with “PL / Jewellery inspectors”)
  • CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) method and to screen and ID diamond’s origin
  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (Fracture Filling and coating),
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (Traditional Lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Post treatments of CVD-grown colorless diamonds (by HPHT press)
  • ID of HPHT-enhanced diamonds using advanced instruments
  • ID of mounted synthetic diamonds with EXA instrument and screening instruments
  • Problems and solution in identification of melee natural and synthetic diamonds

PRACTICAL: Samples of Ia, IIa, IIb, Ib diamonds (natural and synthetic origin) are tested with UV lamp (“inspectors”), Gempen, microscopes and Polarioscope, Alrosa Diamond Inspector, EXA.

Afternoon (1:45 PM to 5:30 PM): ID of Coloured Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)

  • YELLOW and ORANGE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • GREEN and CHAMELEON diamonds: source/producers, characteristics and ID
  • BLUE and GRAY diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • PINK and RED diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • Use of Standard Instruments to separate Coloured Natural and Synthetic Diamonds
  • Color Enhancements – stable (irradiation, annealing, HPHT, multistep treatments)
  • Post treatments of HPHT-grown and CVD-grown diamonds (irradiation and HPHT)
  • Identification methods for treated diamonds with advanced instruments at labs
  • Grading and Certification of coloured diamonds at gem laboratories

PRACTICAL: Coloured Diamonds are tested with portable polarioscope, Gempen, PL Inspector, microscope and handheld spectroscope in screening and ID with EXA machine.

Screening and ID of Synthetic Diamonds – Naples, USA

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Audience: For gemmologists, appraisers, and individuals with trade experience
Date: Aug 23, 2019 (Friday)
Location: Strand Golf course, Naples, Florida

9am-12:45pm: ID of Colourless Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)
  • Colourless Natural diamonds: sources, characteristics and identification
  • Methods of growing HPHT and CVD diamonds
  • Inclusions in Natural and Synthetic diamonds
  • UV lamp – reaction of different diamonds, loose and mounted with “PL / Jewellery inspectors”)
  • CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) method and to screen and ID diamond’s origin
  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (Fracture Filling and coating),
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (Traditional Lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Post treatments of CVD-grown colorless diamonds (HPHT)
  • ID of HPHT-enhanced diamonds using advanced instruments
  • ID of mounted synt. diamonds with EXA instrument and screening instruments
  • Problems and solution in identification of melee natural and synthetic diamonds

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Samples of Ia, IIa, IIb, Ib diamonds (natural and synthetic origin) are tested with mini UV lamp (“PL inspector”), microscopes with mini Polarioscope

1:45pm-5:30pm: ID of Coloured Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)
  • YELLOW and ORANGE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • GREEN and CHAMELEON diamonds: source/producers, characteristics and ID
  • BLUE and GRAY diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • PINK and RED diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • Use of Standard Instruments to separate Coloured Natural and Synthetic Diamonds
  • Color Enhancements – stable (irradiation, annealing, HPHT, multistep treatments)
  • Post treatments of HPHT-grown and CVD-grown diamonds (irradiation and HPHT)
  • Identification methods for treated diamonds with advanced instruments at labs
  • Grading and Certification of coloured diamonds at gem laboratories

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Coloured Diamonds are tested with portable polarioscope, PL Inspector, microscope and handheld spectroscope in screening and identification.

Natural, Treated and Synthetic Emeralds and Jades – Brisbane, Australia

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Audience: For gemmologists, appraisers, and individuals with trade experience
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Date: Mar 14, 2019

MORNING (9.00am-12.45 pm): EMERALD 

Identification of Emeralds is still possible outside a lab because many gemstone properties can be analyzed with portable instruments. We will cover emerald’s identification, recognition of synthetics and understanding the difference between hydrothermal and flux synthetics, as well as the identification of fillers inside cracks. Oiling is an accepted treatment in the trade and today, and almost all emeralds are oiled / clarity enhanced. There is new deposit of emeralds in Ethiopia that has different characteristics than emeralds from Columbia, Brazil or East Africa

  • Emerald Sources
  • Identification of Fracture Filled Emeralds
  • Synthetic Emeralds
  • Use of Advanced Instruments in Detection and Certification at Gem Labs

AFTERNOON (13.45am-17.30 pm): JADE

Come to this lecture and workshop and learn how to screen for A jadeite jade (natural colour), B jade (impregnated with polymer) and C jade (dyed) using only UV lamp! You need to also know your limitations using standard instruments in testing jade and when piece of Jadeite or Nephrite Jade in question should be sent to gem laboratory for advanced testing with VIS-NIR and Infrared spectrometers.

  • Properties of  Jadeite and Nephrite Jade
  • Identification of Dyed Jadeite Jade with Microscopy and VIS spectroscopy
  • Identification of Polymer Impregnated Jadeite Jade by FTIR Spectroscopy

PRACTICAL LAB SESSION

  • Participants we will look at inclusions in emeralds from different localities, detection of oiled and synthetic emeralds with a microscope and loupe.
  • Use of microscopy and fluorescence in detecting oiled emeralds and dyed jadeite jade
  • Screening for Jade (A, B or C) with UV lamp (PL and Jewelry inspectors

Natural, Treated and Synthetic Rubies and Sapphires – Brisbane, Australia

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Audience: For gemmologists, appraisers, and individuals with trade experience
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Date: Mar 13, 2019

Full Day: 9:00am – 5:30pm

Historically ruby and sapphire are the most significant colored stones. Rubies are expected to have some inclusions because of their growing environment that can help with identification (natural, treated or synthetic). Heating is an accepted treatment in the trade and today, almost all but the finest rubies and sapphires are routinely heated.

Sapphires have some natural inclusions that in combination with spectroscopy can help identify a sapphire’s country of origin. Yellow, orange and blue sapphires can be heated with additional lighter elements to induce color. Lattice diffusion with beryllium is more permanent than traditional titanium diffusion treatment.

  • Corundum Treatments
  • Detection of Heat Treatments of Ruby and Sapphire
  • Heat Treatments with Chemical Elements
  • Effect of Heat Treatments on Inclusions
  • Synthetic Rubies and Sapphires
  • Use of Advanced Instruments in Detection of Treatments and Synthetics
  • Certification of Rubies and Sapphires at Gem Labs

PRACTICAL LAB SESSION

  • Separation of  ruby  and other red gems using standard portable instruments
  • Use of microscopes and UV lamps for detection of rubies and sapphires
  • Participants we will look at inclusions in ruby, sapphire and emeralds from different localities, detection of heat treatments and lead glass-filled rubies and oiled emeralds with a microscope
  • Different fluorescence reactions of red gems and sapphire will be examined with PL Inspector

Tools to bring home: handouts, NEW booklet “ID of Transparent Red, Pink and Purple Gems with Portable Instruments” by Branko Deljanin, John Chapman, 30AUS value

Available for sale: books, CPF loupe, Jewellery and PL inspectors

Screening and ID of Synthetic Diamonds – San Francisco, USA

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Audience: For gemmologists, appraisers, and individuals with trade experience
Date: Jan 19, 2019 (Saturday)
Location: San Francisco

9am-12:45pm: ID of Colourless Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)
  • Colourless Natural diamonds: sources, characteristics and identification
  • Methods of growing HPHT and CVD diamonds
  • Inclusions in Natural and Synthetic diamonds
  • UV lamp – reaction of different diamonds, loose and mounted with “PL / Jewellery inspectors”)
  • CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) method and to screen and ID diamond’s origin
  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (Fracture Filling and coating),
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (Traditional Lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Post treatments of CVD-grown colorless diamonds (HPHT)
  • ID of HPHT-enhanced diamonds using advanced instruments
  • ID of mounted synt. diamonds with EXA instrument and screening instruments
  • Problems and solution in identification of melee natural and synthetic diamonds

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Samples of Ia, IIa, IIb, Ib diamonds (natural and synthetic origin) are tested with mini UV lamp (“PL inspector”), microscopes with mini Polarioscope

1:45pm-5:30pm: ID of Coloured Diamonds (Natural, Treated, and Lab-grown)
  • YELLOW and ORANGE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • GREEN and CHAMELEON diamonds: source/producers, characteristics and ID
  • BLUE and GRAY diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • PINK and RED diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and ID
  • Use of Standard Instruments to separate Coloured Natural and Synthetic Diamonds
  • Color Enhancements – stable (irradiation, annealing, HPHT, multistep treatments)
  • Post treatments of HPHT-grown and CVD-grown diamonds (irradiation and HPHT)
  • Identification methods for treated diamonds with advanced instruments at labs
  • Grading and Certification of coloured diamonds at gem laboratories

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Coloured Diamonds are tested with portable polarioscope, PL Inspector, microscope and handheld spectroscope in screening and identification.

Coloured Diamonds – ID of Natural, Treated and Synthetic Diamonds with Standard and Advanced Instruments – Carlsbad, USA

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Assistant: Elena Deljanin, M.Sc. FGA, Gemmological Research Industries Inc.
Date: Oct 6, 2018
Location:Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel – 5805 Armada Dr. Carlsbad, CA

9am-12.30pm: IDENTIFICATION of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • BROWN diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • YELLOW and ORANGE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics, and identification
  • GREEN and CHAMELEON diamonds: source/producers, characteristics and identification
  • BLUE diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • PINK/RED diamonds: sources/producers, characteristics and identification
  • Use of Synthetic Diamond ID Kit to separate Colored Natural and Synthetic Diamonds

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Microscopy –inclusions for HPHT and CVD synthetics, UV lamp – colours of fluorescence/phosphorescence and Cross Polarized Filters (CPF) patterns for synthetic origin.

1.30-5.00pm: IDENTIFICATION of TREATED NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (Fracture Filling and coating),
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (Traditional Lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Processes for colour treatments of diamonds, natural and synthetic
  • Color Enhancements – stable (irradiation, annealing, HPHT, multistep treatments)
  • Post treatments of HPHT-grown and CVD-grown diamonds (irradiation)
  • Identification methods for treated diamonds with advanced instruments at labs
  • Certification of treated and synthetic diamonds at gem laboratories

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Coloured Diamonds are tested with microscopes, mini UV lamps, (PL inspectirs), CPF (portable polariscopes) and Jewellery Inspectors for mounted diamonds

  • Portable “Synthetic Diamond ID Kit” (loupes, polariscope, lights, UV lamps) will be available
  • Certificate of completion will be issued to all participants

Colourless Diamonds – Screening and ID of Natural, Treated and Synthetic Diamonds with Standard and Advanced Instruments – Carlsbad, USA

Instructor: Branko Deljanin, B.Sc., GG, FGA, DUG (CGL-GRS Lab, Canada)
Assistant: Elena Deljanin, M.Sc. FGA, Gemmological Research Industries Inc.
Date: Oct 5, 2018
Location: Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel – 5805 Armada Dr. Carlsbad, CA

9am-12.30pm: IDENTIFICATION of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • Types of diamonds based on nitrogen and boron content
  • Colourless Natural diamonds: sources, characteristics and identification
  • Methods of growing HPHT and CVD diamonds
  • Inclusions in Natural and Synthetic diamonds
  • UV lamp – reaction of different types of diamonds under LW and SW UV light (“PL inspector”)
  • CPF (Cross Polarized Filters) method and instrumentation to screen and ID diamond’s origin

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Samples of Ia, IIa, IIb, Ib diamonds (natural synthetic origin) are tested with microscopes, mini UV lamp (“PL inspector”) and Mini Polariscope with Portable light

1.30-5.00pm: SCREENING for TREATMENTS of NATURAL and SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

  • Clarity and Color Enhancements – unstable (Fracture Filling and coating),
  • Clarity Enhancements – stable (Traditional Lasering, KM Laser drilling)
  • Testing and screening methods for treated diamonds with standard instruments
  • Post treatments of CVD-grown colorless diamonds (HPHT)
  • ID of HPHT-enhanced diamonds using advanced instruments
  • ID of mounted synt. diamonds with EXA instrument and screening instruments
  • Problems and solution in identification of melee natural and synthetic diamonds

PRACTICAL WORKSHOP: Colorless Diamonds are tested with microscopes, mini UV lamps, CPF (portable polarioscopes) and portable spectrometer for natural, treated or synthetic origin

  • Portable “Synthetic Diamond ID Kit” (loupes, polarioscope, lights, UV lamps) will be available
  • Certificate of completion will be issued to all participants