AGA and NCDIA To Host Discussions on Lab-Grown Diamonds

A 2.02-carat round lab-grown diamond with J color and VS 1 clarity by Gemesis. It sells for $16,927.60.

Lab-grown diamonds are a hot topic right now. There are two issues dominating the industry.

The most important is what to call these diamonds. The industry has been pretty successful pushing the word “synthetic” as a way to identify them for consumers but it has always been controversial as these gems are real diamonds grown in a lab and the word “synthetic” means fake. “Lab-grown” is the term I use to identify these diamonds because I think it is more accurate. This goes against the every diamond and gem organization that has written rules for the industry to follow as they prefer using “synthetic.”

The other issue is that some diamond dealers are mixing less costly lab-grown diamonds with mined diamonds. Both the Gemological Institute of America and De Beers, and probably others, have built machines that they say are capable of detecting these diamonds.

Regardless of the controversies and the fact that many in the traditional diamond industry see them as a threat, lab-grown diamonds are here to stay and will continue to be a greater part of the diamond and gem mix, as laboratory techniques become more accessible and less expensive.

There will be at least two organizations that will address the issues of these diamonds for the trade during the Las Vegas jewelry shows, which begins Tuesday and runs through June 2.

The Accredited Gemologists Association will host a four-hour panel discussion beginning 1 p.m. on May 29 at Platinum Hotel. Speakers are James Shigley, research fellow of the Gemological Institute of America, Tom Chatham, president, Chatham Created Gems; Dusan Simic, president of Analytical Gemology and Jewelry Laboratory, and Ronnie VanderLinden, president of the Diamond Manufacturer's and Importers Association (DMIA) and Diamex, Inc. For more information got to www.accreditedgemologists.org.

Shigley will provide information on identification techniques for lab-created diamonds, and Dusan Simic will present breaking news on affordable options now available for identifying mounted as well loose diamonds, including melee sizes. Tom Chatham, a respected grower, will give a producer's insights into current and projected production estimates, while diamond dealer Ronnie Vanderlinden will share his thoughts on why he, a well known natural diamond dealer, decided to sell lab-grown diamonds as well as natural. In addition, the Q&A session will be extended to allow attendees to play a more interactive role in creating an in-depth discussion and understanding of the market and where it is headed.

Meanwhile, the Natural Color Diamond Association will host its own panel discussion on lab-grown diamonds and discuss how they affect the trade as part of the education program at the JCK Las Vegas jewelry tradeshow at Mandalay Bay. The session will be held May 30 at 1 p.m. The panelists will discuss policies regarding synthetic diamonds, whether they are relative today and potential solutions to any outstanding issues.

The panel will include Cecilia Gardner, president, CEO and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, Charles Stanley, president of Forevermark US, Ronnie Vanderlinden, president of the Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association, James Shigley, Gemological Institute of America Research Fellow, and Thomas Gelb, NCDIA education director.

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De Beers Opens Ventures Capital Firm in Silicon Valley for its Man Made Diamonds

Element Six single crystal synthetic diamonds are used for cutting, optical, electronic and detector applications.

De Beer’s strategy of going outside the diamond industry to hire Philippe Mellier, who previously worked in the power generation and transport markets, may be paying off in ways that few of us anticipated.

What few people talk about, when discussing the De Beers Group is its full ownership of Element Six, the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of synthetic diamonds, which is used for industrial applications.

This low-profile division of De Beers opened an office in Santa Clara, Calif. For its established a venture group capital fund that will fund starts ups using its man-made diamonds for applications in a range of industries, including optics, power transmission, water treatment, semi-conductors and sensors.

Element Six Ventures Group will focus on broadening its portfolio of “early-stage emerging-technology investments” in the Silicon Valley region, the company said in a statement Monday.

“Synthetic diamond’s extreme properties enhance performance in new technology applications to levels not otherwise possible,” said Susie Wheeler, Element Six Ventures Group magaing director. “Locating the Ventures’ office in Silicon Valley allows us to connect with new partners who, like us, want to develop these emerging technology investments.”

Element Six Ventures specializes in seed to late-stage technology operations that use synthetic diamond and other supermaterials demonstrating scalable and commercial potential. Since 2006, the firm has invested in seven companies operating within the clean-tech, semiconductor and electronics sectors. The companies include: California-based Group4 Labs, which develops Gallium Nitride-on-diamond semiconductor wafers for high frequency communication applications; Massachusetts-based EOI, which harnesses synthetic diamond-enabled electrodes to generate ozone for chemical free sterilization and sanitization of water; and UK-based Diamond Detectors, which manufactures synthetic diamond radiation detectors which are used on the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research).

Element Six’s main office is in Luxembourg and the company has manufacturing facilities in China, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa and the UK. The company’s name derives from carbon, the core ingredient in diamonds.

Bill Pope, Synthetic Diamond Pioneer, 88

Bill Jordan Pope, recognized for his pioneering contributions in the development of synthetic diamond manufacturing for multiple industries from oil and gas drilling to diamond-coated hip joints, died Tuesday afternoon at his home in Springville, Utah, from natural causes. He was 88

As a renowned scientist who helped found three Utah companies, he was awarded the Utah Governor's Silver Medal Award for science and technology. As a chemical engineering professor and business mentor at Brigham Young University for 20 years, he inspired hundreds of aspiring business leaders.

Mr. Pope was extremely active in business development in Utah where he served as president of MegaDiamond, US Synthetic and Dimicron, all involving the manufacturing and use of synthetic diamonds.

"Bill's accomplishments in the synthetic diamond industry are legendary," said Terry Kane, executive director, Industrial Diamond Association of America. "There are many that have admired and will continue to admire his tremendous work and great innovations for generations to come. He will be greatly missed."

In 1966, Mr. Pope partnered with fellow Brigham Young University professor Duane Horton and Howard Tracy Hall, the first person to produce diamond from carbon using a verifiable and reproducible process, to form Megadiamond, a company that manufactures diamond products for industrial applications.

In 1972, he and his son Louis founded US Synthetic, which manufactures diamond inserts for applications in down-hole drilling tools. In 1998, he founded Dimicron Inc., which makes orthopedic parts for humans out of a diamond and metal composite called Poly-crystalline Diamond Compact.

"As one of the founding fathers of US Synthetic, Bill Pope had a profound influence on the people around him, the business, science and entire HPHT diamond industry," said Rob Galloway, president and CEO of the Orem, Utah based company. "We owe Bill a great debt of gratitude for his fortitude and unquenchable enthusiasm and support for our continued success."

Mr. Pope was active in civic affairs-serving in numerous leadership positions that saw him receive awards and honors including: Utah Valley University's Excellence in Ethics Award, the Freedom Festival's Pioneer of Progress Award, and the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum's Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

His philanthropic generosity was known to both BYU and the University of Utah, where the Science Building is named in his honor and perpetual scholarships at both universities have been established. The Center for Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange twice honored Mr. Pope with the Helping Hands Award. And the Provo and Orem Chamber of Commerce recognized Mr. Pope with the Arthur Watkins Award for Businessman of the Year. Mr. Pope has served in numerous volunteer positions in his community and church including bishop, stake president, and regional representative.

Mr. Pope received engineering degrees from the UVU and a PhD from the University of Washington. He received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Business from Utah Valley University. The alumni at BYU also honored Mr. Pope with Emeriti Award for his contributions to the community.

Two video tributes follow:

Mr. Pope is survived by his wife Margaret McConkie Pope, his son Louis and wife Chriss, his daughter Leslie and husband Alan Layton, his daughter Kathryn and husband David Paxman, his daughter Patrice and husband Wayne Tew, 28 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held December 4 at the Hobble Creek Stake Center in Springville. Condolences may be sent to the family through the Berg Mortuary of Provo.