Following the success of its automated analysis and color sorting service in repect of melee diamonds, introduced as a pilot program in June 2016, GIA has now announced that its laboratories located in the major gem and jewelry centers around the world, are now prepared to accept diamonds from its clients for Melee Analysis Service, that would lay to rest the anxieties of diamond dealers around the world of the possibility of synthetic or treated diamonds being mixed into parcels of melee diamonds. The system developed by GIA after decades of research can separate natural, untreated diamonds from simulants and potentially synthetic or treated diamonds, and also sort the screened diamonds by color range.
The fully automated system is capable of rapidly and accurately analyzing and sorting diamonds ranging in diameter from 0.90 mm to 4.00 mm, weighing approximately from 0.005 carat to around 0.25 carat and can process about 1,800 to 2,000 stones per hour around the clock.
GIA has laid down the submission criteria for its Melee Analysis Service. The first criterion is that the diamonds should be round or circular-cut and from D to Z color range. Secondly, the range in size of the diamonds should be from 0.90 mm to 4.00 mm or in terms of weight from 0.005 carats to around 0.25 carats. The third criterion is that there should be a minimum of 500 melee diamonds per parcel submitted for analysis. The prices charged for Melee Analysis Service ranges from 8 US cents for a stone of size 0.90 to 1.49 mm to 40 US Cents for a stone of size 3.50 to 4.00 mm. Once the diamonds are analysed and sorted they are packed securely and sealed for shipment directly to a third party, upon request and when permissible, or back to the submitting client.
