Debswana and Huawei Unveil the World’s First 5G Mine

Debswana and Chinese tech giant Huawei at the Mobile World Congress Trade Show this week announced plans for the unveiling of "the world's first 5G-oriented smart diamond mine project".
The 5G network allows cutting-edge technologies like autonomous driving and enables more intelligent digital transformation of the mining industry in the years to come.

Mining and ExplorationTechnology

ASDI-500 Tech Signifies a New Path to Diamond Transparency: Separating LGDs From Natural Stones

Jewelry trade publications such as JCK are reporting ever more instances of lab-grown diamonds bearing fraudulent inscriptions linked to grading reports for natural gems. “Given that the resale value of lab-grown diamonds is next to nothing,” said Soraya Cayen, owner of the Carmel, CA. jewelry salon, Cayen Collection, “retailers and consumers alike are understandably seeking confirmation that their diamond is a naturally mined one.”

TechnologyGrading

China Makes Critical Advancements in Digitalization: Issues First E-Certificate

The Chinese National Gemstone Testing Center (or NGTC for short) has issued the first digital certificates (or e-Certificate) for their strategic partner, Chow Taifook (or CTF for short). This is an important step for NGTC’s digitizing transformation. By downloading the NGTC APP or using the WeChat Applet, a user only needs to scan the NGTC certificate code to retrieve the NGTC digital certificate immediately.

TechnologyIn-depth

Quantum Technology Powered by Diamonds Advances Brain Tumor Surgery

Researchers from the German institutions Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM), working jointly on a German Federal Ministry of Education and Research-funded project, have developed a quantum sensor that could better ensure safe removal of brain tumors without harming healthy tissue that surround it or areas such as the motor cortex and nerve pathways (see video).

Technology

De Beers’ Builds New Device That Can Screen 3,600 Diamonds Per Hour

De Beers’ innovation arm, Ignite, is launching a new diamond verification instrument which it promises can automatically screen large volumes of melee at speed, and identify rogue lab grown diamonds. According to De Beers, the device can be “easily operated in-house with no specialist expertise required,” further adding to the novelty of the device.

Technology

Sarine Partners with China’s NGTC Lab on Light Performance Grading

Israel-based diamond tech company Sarine Technologies and the Chinese state lab National Gemstone Testing Center (NGTC) announced a partnership that includes Sarine’s light performance technology (“Sarine Light”) has resulted in a co-branded new industry standard for this grading feature on the Chinese market. NGTC will include the light performance grading in its grading reports.

GradingTechnology

Four Years in the Making: Van Cleef & Arpels, Antwerp’s Taché and Samir Gems Reveal Legend of Diamonds set

Last week, Van Cleef & Arpels revealed its Legend of Diamonds, 25 Mystery Set jewels. The process took four years to complete, from the moment Antwerp based diamond companies and manufacturers Taché and Samir Gems bought the 910ct, type IIa Lesotho Legend discovered at the Lesotho Letšeng mine, in 2018 to the 67 diamonds that were cut by Antwerp’s high-tech diamond polishing company Diamcad, to the creation of a bespoke Mystery Set collection of 25 unique pieces incorporating the polished stones.

ManufacturingPolishedTechnology

GIA Abandoning Paper Certs by 2025

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) announced that it has started a winddown of its paper reports, starting with its most popular article, the Diamond Report, to go digital only in January next year. Graded diamonds will be returned with a QR code and the report can be consulted online or via GIA's new app. GIA is also launching an AI-based (Artificial Intelligence) service for diamonds graded in the new system, matching the inscribed diamonds with the digital grading report via a dedicated instrument, which will be available later this year at US$695, JCK News reports.

GradingTechnology

LVMH Invests in Israeli LGD Producer Lusix

Israel-based Lusix, producer of lab-grown diamonds completed an investment round of US$90m, and counts LVMH Luxury Ventures as one of its newly onboarded investors. The company will use the money to expand its production capacity later this year. In a Q&A with JCK News, industry analyst Paul Zimnisky discusses LGD trends, saying LGD prices have been dropping significantly lately as supply is booming. A 1.5ct for example dropped from US$3,500 to US$3,000, Zimnisky noted.

Technology

Tiffany Embracing the Metaverse?

In recent weeks both the Arnault family and Tiffany & Co. have made headlines when it comes to the Metaverse. Days after his father, LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault signaled his wariness of the metaverse "bubble", Alexandre Arnault changed his profile picture on Twitter and Instagram to a Cryptopunk NFT (PFP). Alexandre, who is the executive VP of product and communications at Tiffany & Co., purchased an NFT titled Punk #3167 for ETH 160, roughly USD 415,000.

Technology

Sarine AutoScan High-Speed Robotic Scanning System Released to Beta Testing

Sarine announced it is commencing beta testing of its new AutoScanTM system, an innovative robotic system that executes fast and accurate data acquisition of rough diamonds for traceability and other purposes.

Technology

Bonas Group Adopts Sarine Traceability Solution

The Bonas Group, a global tender and auction house, announced they are adopting the Sarine Diamond Journey traceability program and will offer stones with a registered geographical origin.

Bonas brings diamond output directly to the market. Therefore, the origin can be confidently assured. The diamonds will be registered using the Sarine Diamond Journey ecosystem. The rough diamonds will be accurately scanned, allowing their subsequent traceability throughout the polishing process, providing retailers reliably traced diamonds from varied origins.

TechnologyOrigin Tracking

Boucheron Partners With Sarine Technologies For Fully-Traceable Bridal Jewellery Line

Sarine Technologies announced the French High Jewelry Maison Boucheron is launching a new fully-traceable bridal jewelry line, Etoile de Paris, for which it has partnered with Sarine to provide Boucheron-branded digital diamond reports "powered by Sarine".

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