Screening and Detection Portable Instruments for Lab-Grown Diamonds
What is the ASSURE Program?
The ASSURE Program is a testing regimen for Diamond Verification Instruments, giving you reliable, third-party approved insights that will support your purchasing decisions.
A Diamond Verification Instrument is a device used to separate and/or identify diamonds from synthetic diamonds. They are also known as synthetic diamond screening or synthetic diamond detection devices.
The ASSURE Program assesses the relative performance of Diamond Verification Instruments available on the market and the results can be seen in our ASSURE Directory.
Why is Disclosure so Important?
Diamond
A mineral created by nature; a ‘diamond’ always means a natural diamond.
Synthetic Diamond
An artificial product that has essentially the same physical characteristics as a diamond.
Read the Diamond Terminology Guidelines
Distinguishing natural diamonds from synthetic diamonds requires specialized equipment and can’t be done by the human eye. Accurate disclosure, supported by third-party tested Diamond Verification Instruments, ensures customers know what they are buying and feel confident in natural diamonds.
Testing Diamond Verification Instruments
All Diamond Verification Instruments are tested with a verified ‘ASSURE Sample’ in accordance with a standardized methodology by an independent third-party laboratory.
The ‘ASSURE Sample’ contains a mix of diamonds, synthetic diamonds and, when applicable, diamond simulants. The ASSURE Sample is designed to challenge the instruments and ensure the test results are future proof. For example, the sample contains synthetic diamonds that are not yet commercially available to the jewelry industry.
The ASSURE Program: Measuring Performance
All instruments are evaluated with the following performance metrics:
1. Diamond False Positive Rate – the ratio of synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants mistakenly classified as diamond. The optimal Diamond False Positive Rate is 0%.
2. Diamond Referral Rate – the ratio of diamonds categorized as ‘refer’ or ‘referral’ to the total number of diamonds. The optimal Diamond Referral Rate is 0%.
3. Diamond Accuracy – the ratio of diamonds correctly categorized as diamond to the total number of diamonds. The optimal Diamond Accuracy is 100%.
Some instruments can be used by novices, while others require a trained expert to manually interpret the results or use the device to its fullest. For the latter, instruments were tested twice by both a novice and a manufacturer appointed expert operator.
Find out more about performance results and how they were calculated, here.
Top Tips: Purchasing a Diamond Verification Instrument
Start by browsing the ASSURE Directory for the Diamond Verification Instruments that have already been independently tested and the results of those tests. Use the filter function to guide you to instruments with the attributes you seek.
Look out for the ASSURE Partners and Certification Mark – a symbol that a manufacturer or device is an active participant in the ASSURE Program and that the instrument has been independently tested. It’s important to note that the mark is not an endorsement of the test results.
For further information about the ASSURE Program, please contact us. Manufacturers who would like their instruments ASSURE Tested can also find further details by getting in touch.
