As diamond suppliers, manufacturers and retailers are warned to improve transparency to consumers around lab-grown and natural diamonds, Presidium, an industry-leading manufacturer of diamond and gemstone testing devices, is seeking industry reviewers for its ASSURE-certified Synthetic Diamond Screener (SDS II).

Presidium's SDS II is a portable, affordable option for companies that want to ensure that the diamonds they sell are clearly identified as either mined or lab-grown. It has been awarded the coveted ASSURE Tested Certification Mark and is the only ASSURE diamond verification instrument that retails for less than US$1,000 and delivers 100% accuracy on the synthetic diamond referral rate. It is suitable for both loose and mounted stones, including melees as small as 0.02ct, and can detect lab-grown from mined diamonds in just two seconds.

The recent launch of the ASSURE program comes as news agency Reuters reports this week that the US Federal Trade Commission, which investigates allegations of deceptive advertising, has sent warning letters to eight companies to insist they distinguish in advertisements between diamonds from mines and those made in laboratories.

Speaking about the ASSURE program, DPA CEO Jean - Marc Lieberherr said: "Through the ASSURE program, we will support the diamond trade, from independent jewellery retailers to large diamond manufacturers, to make informed decisions on how to ensure that undisclosed laboratory-grown diamonds do not enter their natural diamond supply chain."

The ASSURE programme is a joint collaboration between the Diamond Producers Association (DPA) and Signet Jewelers. Each instrument is tested on the ASSURE core sample, a highly contaminated sample made up of 1,000 natural diamonds and 200 synthetic diamonds including very challenging synthetic stones, some of which are not yet available on the market.

Established in 1979, Presidium was the first company in the world to launch numerous gemmological instruments, and is committed to researching and developing state-ofthe- art instruments for the benefit of the industry. Its market-leading products include innovative diamond testers, coloured gemstone testers, gemstone gauges and portable carat scales.

Presidium is looking for testers specifically across Europe, the Americas and Asia, and the SDS II machines is available for a one-month free road test in return for a review that the company can post online. If you are interested in taking part, please contact FACETS on london@facetspr.com.