Basel: De Beers said that its International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) will this week reveal details of an upgraded DiamondView at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) GemFest in Basel.

The instrument generates a surface fluorescence image on any stone being tested, providing information on growth history from which synthetics can be identified, it said in a statement.

The upgraded DiamondView instrument would incorporate easy-to-change filters to aid user interpretation of fluorescence images and the detection of synthetics.

“This upgrade to the DiamondView instrument represents the latest step in our continued investment in synthetic-detection technology and consumer confidence,” said IIDGR president Jonathan Kendall.

“Maintaining trust in diamonds is crucial, so we are pleased to introduce this upgrade to DiamondView and we will continue to invest in technology to support confidence in diamonds throughout the value chain.”

De Beers said the addition of filtering to the fluorescence image can enhance synthetic-specific features, making detection easier.