Lab-grown diamonds pass standard thermal conductivity diamond testers because they are physically, chemically, and optically identical to mined diamonds. Specialized testers, such as Yehuda Sherlock or Presidium SAM, are needed to differentiate HPHT/CVD lab diamonds from natural ones, often using UV light to detect unique growth structures or fluorescence.
Key Aspects of Lab Diamond Testers
- Standard Testers (Pass):
- Lab-Grown Differentiators (Screen): These devices (e.g., Yehuda Watson AI, GIA iD100) identify if the stone is specifically CVD or HPHT grown.
- How They Work: Advanced testers often use photoluminescence spectroscopy or UV light to identify specific spectral properties or inclusions not found in natural stones.
- Reliability: While handheld testers (e.g., Valkynos) are accurate, independent lab grading (GIA, IGI) is the most definitive way to verify origin.
Common Types of Testers
- Handheld Pens/Testers: Portable devices like the TESTEROSSA or PRO-D 3 are best for rapid, field-based checking of mounted stones.
- Tabletop Machines: Devices like the Aura IQ by Smartpro provide more advanced analysis for stones.
- Synthetic Diamond Detectors: These are marketed specifically to distinguish between natural and lab-grown stones, such as the Kassoy HPHT testers.
Common brands mentioned include Presidium, Yehuda, Smartpro, and GemOro.