The 23-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, set to headline Christie’s May jewelry auction, was expected to sell for as much as $50 million.
AGS Laboratories Launches Natural Diamond Verification
The American Gem Society Laboratories is offering the service to distinguish if a diamond is natural or synthetic, and if it has been HPHT treated.

Las Vegas--The American Gem Society Laboratories has launched a new natural diamond verification service.
The service will ascertain if a diamond is natural or synthetic, and if it has been HPHT (high-pressure high-temperature) treated.
AGS Laboratories conducts the verification service within a 48 hour time frame. After being verified as natural, retailers can choose to have their diamonds graded by AGS Labs, in which case the natural diamond verification service fee is waived.
The verification service is available via standard diamond testing protocol, the lab said. Similar services for melee measuring 0.1 to 0.18 carats will be available in the future.
“In today’s marketplace, transparency is more important than ever,” said AGS Laboratories and American Gem Society CEO Ruth Batson. “The natural diamond verification service will help communicate the scientific facts, clearly and effectively, providing retailers with one less concern as a business person.”
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