IdentificationofCVDSyntheticDiamond.doc

Identification of CVD Synthetic Diamond CVD化学气相沉积法合成钻石的鉴别 Gemmological Association of All Japan, Research Laboratory:Hiroshi KITAWAKI (FGA, CGJ), Ahmadjan Abduriyim (Ph D), Makoto OKANO (CGJ) We conducted gemmological study on synthetic diamonds produced by CVD technique by Apollo Diamond Inc., and synthetic diamonds produced for research purposes by CVD technique by Element Six (De Beers Industrial Diamond Division). The stones we tested were type IIb of brown to near colourless, and it is usually very hard to distinguish these stones from natural diamonds only by common gemmological tests. However, their characteristic orange fluorescence under ultraviolet light and absence of anomalous double refraction due to strain called “Tatami” structure, which is commonly seen in type II natural diamonds, indicate their synthetic origin. Combination of laboratory techniques such as photoluminescence analysis (PL) and cathode luminescence analysis (CL) can identify between them clearly.  ◆ Introduction?? At the beginning of 1990s, synthetic diamonds became available on the gem market and then the new material became widely known to client in the industry. Most of the synthetic diamonds are typeIb with yellow colour and usually under 2ct weight, however, typeIIa of colourless and typeIIb of blue colour materials are also existence. In recent years, pink to red or purple colour stones have been produced by irradiation and heat treatment. Such stones have all been synthesized by high-pressure-high-temperature (HPHT) process and their identification method is based on the growth environment and crystal morphology that are essential to the HPHT process.?? According to Rapaport News, Apollo Diamond Inc. of Boston, Massachusetts in the United State announced in August 2003 its project to sell synthetic diamonds produced by CVD method for gem use. Apollo Diamond Inc. allegedly have developed technique to produce facetable high-quality CVD diamond over 2mm in thickness and