La Jolla Gem Appraisal applies advanced technology to identify natural versus synthetic diamonds

In the trade, it is essential that laboratory-grown diamonds can be identified because consumers need to know what they are buying and because there are often significant price differences between them and natural gemstones. It is increasingly important for gemologist appraisers to make that call of diamond origin (natural or synthetic) when appraising jewelry to produce credible reports for their clients.

Because laboratory-grown diamonds are essentially chemically and optically the same as their natural counterparts, traditional gemological observations and old-style “diamond detectors” are not able to tell them apart. Identification at a professional gemological laboratory or using sophisticated devices developed by GIA and other reputable organizations are the only reliable methods to separate them from natural diamonds.

One of the most effective analytical methods is optical spectroscopy because it can record the optical characteristics of a gemstone in a way that is quantifiable and reproducible. Synthetic diamond has impurities or extended defects, which is not commonly found in natural diamonds. Certain optical properties can reveal clues about the growth conditions when “the crystal was forming”, and it is significantly different from natural diamonds.

EXA is one of the well-respected and most reliable advanced machines that is developed using the above spectroscopic technology to accurately identify the origin of diamonds. It can recognize 98% of natural diamonds, refer to 2% of natural diamonds for further testing. It refers to 100% of HPHT, CVD-grown synthetic diamonds, and diamond simulants for further testing. Moreover, its advanced mode can also provide professional gemologist appraisers with a lot of useful information in order to identify other colored gemstones and possibly some types of treatment the stones might have by looking at the gem's fluorescence spectrum.

EXA has been well-recognized by professionals for its high standards of quality and accuracy. However, not all gemological labs that offer appraisal services are able to acquire it as it is a high-cost investment. La Jolla Gem Appraisal is one of a few labs that owns this EXA instrument. It is proof of our commitment that we will always keep up with education and new technology to provide our clients the credible results from our reports.