CVD ALERT!

Synthetic alerts were first sounded in mid February, when the Shenzhen lab of the National Gem Testing Center (in China) received a parcel of 18 stones weighing 9.5 carats for certification. 

Diamond Lab Equipment

After DiamondSure and Diamond View exam-inations raised suspicions, NGTC used additional laboratory equipment to confirm all the stones as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthetic diamonds.  The parcel of stones was purchased from Hong Kong as a natural diamonds, without full disclosure to the wholesale buyer.

Shanghai Diamond Exchange

In April, another two CVD synthetic stones were detected by the Beijing lab of NGTC, and then two more batches between April and August.  In late May the Shanghai Diamond Exchange issued a statement with NGTC encouraging buyers to be cautious, and to disclose information properly.  As the second largest diamond market in the world, China’s trade members are concerned about these incognito synthetics; along with the risk of purchasing them without full disclosure.

As you can imagine this has caused buyers to be much more cautious with whom they purchase diamonds.  Some are avoiding Melee Diamonds altogether. While some are limiting their buys to only a select few trusted suppliers whom they deal with on a regular basis.

The important thing here is to get informed.  The National Gems and Jewelry Technology Administrative Center of the Ministry of Land and Resources of China held a technology seminar on CVD synthetics on September 2^nd and 3^rd in Beijing.  Sixty-Five of China’s gemologists, scientists, and government people attended this exchange of information.  The Ministry of Land and Resources also intends to work with other government agencies to prevent the undisclosed CVD synthetics from damaging the consumer market and the public’s confidence in it.