Arete synthetic diamond tester (Gemtrue) for natural/synthetic diamond + Moissanite

Summary

Special price, offer ends 11am Monday 2 December.

The Presidium ARETE is an essential tool for the experienced jeweller and professional diamond dealer, it is for testing known diamonds, to see if they are natural or synthetic. It also detects Moissanite.

Step 1. Test the stone on a standard standard diamond tester.  This will tell you if it's diamond or Moissanite (you won't know which) or if it's neither. If it's neither, no other test is required.  If you are not a diamond expert or do not already have a standard diamond tester, select one as your free gift when you purchase the Arete.

Step 2. If the tester indicates "Diamond" then it's probably diamond but it might be one of the new Moissanites. Or if it is diamond, it might be natural or synthetic* - so now test it on the Arete, this will tell you if:
- you have a natural diamond
- you have a synthetic diamond
- it's not diamond at all, it's Moissanite. 

** natural diamond and synthetic diamond are both real diamonds.  "Naturals" are grown in the ground by nature, "Synthetics" are made by man a laboratory. 

Detail

Natural diamonds grow as crystals deep in the Earth, they are brought nearer the surface through volcanic activity where they are mined (they are also known as as mined diamonds).  It takes 2 to 3 billion years for a diamond crystal to grown naturally. 

Synthetic diamonds are grown by man in a laboratory over a period of a few weeks. "Synthetic" is the scientific term. Colloquially, we say lab-grown or manmade or lab-created.  It takes a few weeks grow a synthetic diamond in a laboratory. 

Synthetics and naturals are identical, they are both diamond. They are the same chemically, they are the same optically. That is why it is so difficult to tell them apart, see our article about synthetic diamonds.  

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 time, confirmed by voice
• one year guarantee

INCLUDED

• The tester
• Rechargeable batteries and a battery charger
• USB power cable (for use instead of batteries)
• Neat heavy-duty carrying pouch for the pocket and a larger case for storage
  
• 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 has read 'diamond' or 'Moissanite' on a standard diamond tester. 

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 Arete is for distinguishing natural diamond from synthetic diamond, it will also detect Moissanite (because Moissanite gives misleading readings on standard diamond testers). The Arete is not for testing diamond v. non-diamond. 

0.01% of natural diamonds have an unusual composition ("Type IIb 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 the diamond gauge.   

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 probably look 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.  Alternatively buy a set of colour-graded stones and match your stone against one of the samples in the set.   

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 £12.50 )
	Bottle of Isopropyl for cleaning stones (RRP £3.50 )
	Diamond Experior (RRP £82.50 )