Gems & Gemology in Review: Synthetic Diamonds

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has compiled more than 30 years of synthetic diamond research in this comprehensive volume. Gems & Gemology in Review: Synthetic Diamonds is the first in a series of books that will focus on particular topics of interest to the gem and jewelry industry. For decades, much of the groundbreaking work on synthetic diamond characterization and identification has been published in GIA’s award-wining scientific journal, Gems & Gemology. Every article in the new 300-page book was originally published in G&G. The articles and news briefs are organized into five sections, each with introductions written by GIA Director of Research Dr. James E. Shigley, who is editor of the book and will serve as series editor. He wrote many of the original reports as well as the preface, which gives a general historical overview of synthetic diamonds—from the time they were first introduced by General Electric Co. (GE) for industrial use in the mid-1950s, to the company’s 1970 announcement of a gem-quality one-carat synthetic diamond, to the debut of synthetics in the market. The most recent articles provide the latest information on high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthetic diamonds, their production and identifying characteristics. Synthetic Diamonds also includes two full-size wall charts on identifying these products.