Introduction:

The Detection Dilemma Backed by Numbers
A recent survey by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) revealed that over 22% of Indian jewellery retailers unknowingly stock lab-grown diamonds in mixed parcels. Another report by Rapaport found that 1 in 5 consumers globally have been sold a lab-grown diamond without disclosure.

In a world where trust is currency, misidentification isn’t just a mistake, it’s a reputation killer.

Here are the top 5 mistakes jewellers are making in 2025, and what real data tells us about how to fix them.

1. Relying on Visual Inspection Instead of Technology
“I’ve been in the trade for 25 years—I can tell the difference by sight.”
That’s what a Mumbai-based jeweller claimed—until a customer demanded testing, and two of five solitaires turned out to be CVD lab-grown.

Reality Check:
Modern CVD diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural ones under a loupe or microscope.

Data Point: According to the GIA, over 90% of lab-grown diamonds tested in 2024 passed standard visual inspections.

Fix:
Implement UV-based or photoluminescence-based detection, like DRC’s technology, that can reveal growth patterns invisible to the human eye.

2. Using Outdated Machines from Pre-2020

A retailer in Jaipur using a 2018 model detector unknowingly sold 3 lab-grown diamonds as natural, resulting in a ₹12 lakh customer claim.

Reality Check:
Older machines fail to detect second-gen HPHT diamonds and many CVDs with post-growth treatments.

Data Point: In a 2023 GJEPC test, over 38% of first-gen detection machines failed to correctly identify synthetic diamonds.

Fix:
Upgrade to modular, AI-assisted machines that evolve with detection science. DRC models come with firmware updates tailored for new-generation synthetics.

3. Skipping Parcel-Level Testing in Bulk Orders
Large retailers often trust suppliers or only test a sample stone. But mixed parcels can go unnoticed.

Case Example:
A major jewellery chain in Gujarat discovered 8% lab-grown contamination in a supposedly natural melee batch, after consumer complaints.

Fix:
Adopt batch-scan technology that allows multiple stones to be tested simultaneously without compromising speed.

4. Undertrained Staff Handling Customer Queries

Staff at a luxury store in Bengaluru told a customer, “This machine just confirms it’s a diamond.” The customer walked out. Why? They wanted to know if it was natural.

Reality Check:
Most sales staff aren’t trained to interpret detection results or explain them with clarity.

Fix:
DRC devices are built with easy-to-read outputs (e.g., “Natural,” “Lab-Grown Suspicion”), allowing frontline staff to test and explain confidently.

5. Treating Detection as an Expense, Not a Trust Strategy

Some smaller retailers skip detection due to cost, until one mistake leads to the loss of lifetime customer trust.

Data Point: The average loss from a single misidentified diamond sale in Tier 1 Indian cities is ₹3.2 lakhs, per a 2023 retail insurance report.

Fix:
Position detection as value-add—customers are willing to pay 2–5% more when transparency and in-store scanning is involved.

Final Word: Detection Is No Longer Optional
Consumers are informed. Competitors are modernising. And the cost of error is rising. The time to correct these mistakes is now—with reliable, scalable, easy-to-use technology.

Ready to transform how you test? DRC’s detection ecosystem is trusted by retailers across India, the UAE, and beyond.