Key points
- SynthDetect 2 reduces a full tray scan from about 30 minutes to under five minutes and screens more diamond and jewelry types than earlier models.
- Greater automation cuts operator input and screening costs, with automatic reporting and software updates built in.
- De Beers is demonstrating the instrument at the Hong Kong Gem & Jewellery Show.
De Beers Group’s Science & Technology division has unveiled SynthDetect 2, a next-generation desktop diamond screening instrument designed to make verification faster, cheaper and easier for the trade.
The new device follows the original SynthDetect, launched in 2017, and the larger SynthDetect XL, released a year later. According to De Beers, both earned their place in its suite of verification tools because they could screen multiple diamonds in set jewelry at once without a probe.
However, the company says the latest version goes considerably further. Working closely with a range of trade participants, the division focused on how the technology fits into day-to-day operations at diamond manufacturers, laboratories and retailers’ back offices.
Faster scans, less manual work
The headline gain is speed. SynthDetect 2 cuts the time for a full tray scan from about 30 minutes to under five minutes, which sharply lifts throughput and productivity. In addition, it can screen more types of diamonds and jewelry than previous models.
Automation also plays a bigger role. Because the instrument needs less operator input, De Beers says it reduces labor and overall screening costs.
Furthermore, it generates reports automatically and receives software updates, so users can keep pace with new screening requirements without replacing hardware.
“We have worked closely with industry partners to ensure SynthDetect 2 is not only tailored to meet diamond companies’ screening requirements, but also to meet their operational needs,” said Sarandos Gouvelis, senior vice president of De Beers Group Science & Technology.
As a result, he said, the trade gets an instrument that integrates seamlessly into existing operations while combining strong technical performance with better speed, cost and efficiency.
On show in Hong Kong
De Beers is demonstrating SynthDetect 2 at its Show & Tell event in the Chancellor Room on Floor 4 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre during the Hong Kong Gem & Jewellery Show.
The launch lands at a time when the industry continues to rely on reliable screening to separate natural stones from laboratory-grown material as it moves through the supply chain.
Consequently, tools that speed up verification without adding staff are likely to draw interest from retailers and labs handling large volumes of set jewelry.
Ultimately, De Beers is positioning the instrument as a productivity upgrade rather than a simple replacement, aimed at reducing the time and cost of confirming what customers are buying.
