Lab Spots Fake Inscription on Color-Treated Type IIa
September 23, 21
(IDEX Online) - A 1.50-ct diamond was found to have a fake inscription and to have undergone color treatment when it was submitted for certification.
The HRD Antwerp lab found the stone's carat weight, color, cut, and final clarity grade (VS1) precisely matched those of the accompanying GIA report.
But there were discrepancies in the clarity characteristics. Close examination revealed the Type IIa stone (pictured) was natural but had undergone HPHT color treatment.
It had been laser-inscribed with the number of a genuine, untreated stone in order to deceive a customer.
"The stone was inscribed with a GIA laser inscription corresponding to a natural diamond grading report. The report made no mention of any colour treatments, which raised some questions about the authenticity of the inscription," said HRD Antwerp in a statement.
More on inscription fraud in this week's Memo.