The technology required to grow diamonds within a controlled laboratory environment has been around for decades but was until recent primarily used to produce industrial diamonds. As the technology gradually matured and the overall manufacturing costs decreased, the production of gem quality laboratory-grown (synthetic) diamonds has now become a financially viable option. With more and more companies venturing into the production of synthetic diamonds these days, an influx of such diamonds entering the market seemed inevitable. Due to the fact the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds produced today is of such a high quality, differentiating natural diamonds from their laboratory-grown counterparts has become increasingly more difficult. All HRD Antwerp labs have the expertise and equipment to screen and detect laboratory-grown diamonds but the financial cost of these examinations often outweighs the value of small diamonds. The development of an automatic melee screening device therefore deemed necessary.To that aim WTOCD, the Antwerp research centre for diamonds has developed the M-Screen which will be commercialized by HRD Antwerp. The M-screen is a superfast, automated melee screening device that screens round brilliant diamonds from 1 point to 20 points for potential lab grown diamonds, potential HPHT colour enhanced diamonds and simulants. The M-Screen automatically feeds, screens and sorts out round brilliant diamonds at a super speed of minimum two diamonds per second (7.200 diamonds per hour). Depending on the size of the stones and the size of the batch, the speed can be as high as a staggering 10.000 diamonds per hour.



This movie illustrates the use of the screening device, use the contact info below for more in depth information.
At this moment WTOCD is finishing the first prototypes for use in the diamond sector. The commercial version based on the results of the prototype will be further developed and handed over to HRD Antwerp Equipment.In addition to the commercialization of the M-Screen, HRD Antwerp is currently also organizing a new melee screening service in its lab in Antwerp using the M-Screen.
For larger lab grown diamonds which are submitted for certification under disclosed conditions, HRD Antwerp issues a Laboratory Grown Diamond Certificate.
All information about M-Screen ...
Dir. Yves Kerremans, WTOCD (Scientific and Technical Research Center for Diamond), Lier, Belgium.