Arete Synthetic Diamond tester by Gemtrue

Summary

The Gemtrue ARETE is an essential tool for the experienced jeweller and professional diamond dealer, it is for testing known diamonds.

Providing you are quite certain you have a diamond, test it on the Gemtrue ARETE to see the chances of it being natural or synthetic. The Gemtrue ARETE will not tell you if the stone is simply "not diamond", its purpose is to 'screen' known diamonds to see which might be synthetic. 

Natural diamonds grow, naturally, deep in the earth as 'rough' diamond crystals (mined diamonds). Synthetic diamonds are grown by man in a laboratory. Synthetics and naturals are identical, they are both diamond. That is why it is so difficult to tell them apart; that is why these testers are expensive. 

"Synthetic" is the scientific term. Colloquially, we say lab-grown or manmade or lab-created. 

The Gemtrue ARETE will distinguish most synthetic diamond from natural diamonds. It will also detect Moissanite. The Gemtrue ARETE is not a diamond tester for distinguishing diamond from non-diamond, see our Guide to buying diamond testers.  

Guarantee: 1 year

Features

• handheld and lightweight
  
• can test any stone mounted in jewellery (most brands are either for loose stones only, or can only test stones in small rings with open settings)
• also tests for Moissanite 
• fastest response time (test-result in 2 seconds)
• Although there's an instruction leaflet, there are also videos of the instructions on the actual display on on the tester
• Results displayed on the screen and, at the same timne, confirmed by voice
• one year guarantee

INCLUDED

• The tester
• Neat heavy-duty carrying pouch for the pocket and a larger case for storage
• USB power cable (for use instead of batteries)
• Stone-holder for loose stones (you can also test stones mounted in jewellery)
• Polishing cloth (to clean the stone before the test)
• Alcohol wipes (for cleaning the test-tip)
• Diamond gauge (to check that the stone is at least 0.02ct in size)

Operation

1) Clean the top (table) of the stone with the polishing cloth
2) Do not remove the cap. Turn it on, wait 5 seconds for it to warm up
3) Place the probe in the centre of the stone as instructed on the display and see the reading (details below).

THE READINGS:

CVD / HPHT / Type IIa diamond
CVD/ HPHT are two are methods of growing diamond = synthetic
Type IIa diamond is a very rare type of natural diamond that will show up as 'synthetic' on this tester. So if the tester shows, "CVD / HPHT / Type IIa Diamond" there is a good chance it's synthetic but this is not guaranteed.

DIAMOND
By "diamond" they mean natural diamond. 

MOISSANITE
Moissanite is not diamond (neither natural diamond nor synthetic diamond) but it is useful to be able to detect these because they show up as diamond on cheap diamond testers. 

You notice that there isn't a reading not diamond ("simulant"); if you are not a diamond dealer or experienced jeweller you must be certain you are testing a stone that will register 'diamond' on most diamond testers; testing non-diamonds on a Synthetic Diamond Tester can give incorrect readings.

Technical

Size 192mm X 42mm X 21mm 

Weight 76g 

Tests* stones from 0.01 to 3 carats incl. mounted stones in any setting

Tests* stones of colour D to J

Tests* round (brilliant-cut) stones that are perfectly polished

* It is important to understand what these limitations mean, see our guide to synthetic-diamond testing.

RESPONSE TIME

Start-up time 5 seconds

Testing time 2 seconds

POWER

Power: four AAA batteries (supplied) or any USB power source (USB cable supplied)

Battery life: 4 hours of testing

Auto-power-off yes, if used on battery power it turns itself off after 10mns of non-activity.

ACCURACY

We don't have official figures but, typically, these gives a correct results about 95% of the time providing the colour is 'clear' (colour D to J) and the size is at least 0.02ct and the cut round ('brilliant') and perfectly-cut. 

GUARANTEE

1 year

Limitations, please read!

The GemTrue ARETE is not for testing diamond v. non-diamond. It is for showing you the chance of a diamond being natural (originating from the earth) or synthetic (manmade in a laboratory) - both are 'real' diamond. The ARETE also distinguishes diamond from Moissanite.  A synthetic-diamond tester is for the experienced jeweller and professional diamond dealer. 

5% of natural diamonds have an unusual composition ("Type IIa diamond") and cannot be distinguished from synthetic diamonds. 

Stones must be at least 0.8mm diameter (approx. 0.01ct) so if the stone is small, check it with a diamond gauge. For the non-expert: select a diamond gauge as your free gift. For the professional jeweller: from 2 points is safe.  

Stones must be Brilliant Cut (modern, round) and perfectly-cut in proportion, it will not test shallow stones. For the non-expert: make sure the stone is recent (eg not from the 19th century) and is round. For the professional jeweller: if you specialise in Victorian jewellery (or earlier) this tester might not be suitable, it will not give accurate results on rose-cut etc. 

The stone must be very 'white' in colour (colour D to J).
For the non-expert: if it has any colour (e.g. the tiniest slightest yellow tint) you won't get an accurate reading. It takes an expert to colour-grade a stone, to the non-expert Colour Grade D will look exactly the same as Colour Grade J.  For the professional jeweller: if you work at a shop counter and don't understand this, please ask your diamond expert to colour-grade the stone for you.  

For more information see our guide to synthetic-diamond testing.

Disclaimer

All testers  must be used in conjunction with the user's skill, knowledge and experience. Under no circumstances shall QUICKTEST be liable for direct or indirect loss sustained in connection with any item. Nothing is 100% accurate, you must understand the limitations of any tester you buy. We also suggest you regularly test known samples to check for any obvious faults. Full support given for items you buy from QUICKTEST.

Further Information

All about electronic gem testers 
Gem testers | Quicktest

Guide to buying and testing diamonds 
Guide to buying and testing diamonds | Quicktest

Distinguishing diamond from Moissanite
Distinguishing diamond from Moissanite | Quicktest

Testing for synthetic diamonds
Testing for synthetic diamonds | Quicktest

Books
Jewellery, hallmarks, gemstones | Quicktest

Free gift details

If you would like one of the following free gifts with this product, select one from “Select your free gift” above.

	Diamond gauge, laser-cut, multi-shape, acrylic (RRP $14.00 )
	Cz (cubic zirconia). (RRP $7.00 )
	Bottle of Isopropyl for cleaning stones (RRP $4.00 )