Gemological Science International (GSI) detected undisclosed lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) in jewellery set with natural brown diamonds. The discovery comes as off-colour natural diamonds — particularly brown and champagne tones — gain popularity as stylish, affordable, and distinctive alternatives to traditional colourless stones.
Using advanced detection methods, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), DiamondView imaging, and Raman spectroscopy with liquid nitrogen cooling, GSI gemmologists confirmed that several jewellery pieces contained a mix of natural and lab-grown diamonds. The tested stones ranged from near colourless with light brown tints to fancy dark brown shades.
The findings build upon GSI’s previous research into coloured lab-grown diamonds, which demonstrated how synthetics can closely replicate natural hues. The organisation underscored the need for robust screening and full disclosure practices to maintain transparency and consumer trust.
“As the industry embraces natural brown diamonds, it is essential to safeguard their integrity in the marketplace,” said Debbie Azar, President and Co-Founder of GSI. “Our mission is to ensure consumer confidence by applying advanced science to protect retailers, manufacturers, and the trade — and to support the industry’s efforts to promote natural off-colour diamonds with trust and transparency.”
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