CDG Technology & Digital Tools 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Raman spectroscopy is preferred over FTIR for confirming a stone is diamond because it specifically identifies:
- The exact nitrogen concentration in parts per million
- The characteristic 1332 cm⁻¹ Raman peak unique to diamond's carbon lattice (Correct answer)
- Surface coating thickness in nanometers
- Fluorescence emission wavelength under laser excitation
Correct answer: The characteristic 1332 cm⁻¹ Raman peak unique to diamond's carbon lattice
Diamond produces a sharp, distinctive Raman peak at 1332 cm⁻¹ that conclusively confirms its carbon sp³ bonding structure.
Question 2: When a grading lab's digital imaging system uses 'macro photography with cross-polarized light,' the primary goal is to:
- Enhance color saturation for consumer marketing images
- Reveal internal stress, strain, and growth features without surface glare (Correct answer)
- Measure exact millimeter dimensions of the girdle
- Detect fluorescence intensity under ultraviolet excitation
Correct answer: Reveal internal stress, strain, and growth features without surface glare
Cross-polarized light suppresses surface reflections, allowing strain and internal features to be imaged more clearly.
Question 3: A diamond's laser inscription is best verified using which tool available at the point of sale?
- A standard 10× loupe aimed at the table
- A 10× loupe or microscope focused on the girdle while matching the number to a grading report (Correct answer)
- A UV lamp to read fluorescent ink markings
- Polarized light to identify the inscription's refractive index
Correct answer: A 10× loupe or microscope focused on the girdle while matching the number to a grading report
Laser inscriptions are etched on the girdle and must be read under magnification and matched exactly to the report number.
Question 4: Which measurement does Sarine's Advisor system specifically provide that helps customers understand a diamond's light performance?
- Quantified fluorescence grade on a 0–100 scale
- A Light Performance score based on fire, brilliance, and sparkle metrics (Correct answer)
- An exact atomic nitrogen count via spectroscopy
- A blockchain hash linking the stone to its rough origin
Correct answer: A Light Performance score based on fire, brilliance, and sparkle metrics
Sarine Advisor generates a Light Performance report measuring brilliance, fire, and sparkle through ray-tracing simulation.
Question 5: In a computerized inclusion mapping system, what does the term 'cloud' render as on a digital plot?
- A solid filled circle indicating a crystal inclusion
- Multiple tiny dots grouped to represent a hazy cluster of pinpoints (Correct answer)
- A curved line indicating a feather near the girdle
- A rectangle representing a chip on the culet
Correct answer: Multiple tiny dots grouped to represent a hazy cluster of pinpoints
A cloud is plotted as a cluster of small dots because it consists of numerous minute inclusions too small to plot individually.
Question 6: UV-Vis spectrophotometry is used in advanced diamond labs primarily to:
- Weigh diamonds with milligram precision
- Identify specific color-causing defects such as the N-V center responsible for pink color (Correct answer)
- Produce a 3D surface topography map of facet geometry
- Register laser inscriptions on the girdle
Correct answer: Identify specific color-causing defects such as the N-V center responsible for pink color
UV-Vis spectrophotometry measures light absorption across ultraviolet and visible wavelengths, identifying defect centers that cause color.
Question 7: The term 'virtual faceting' in modern diamond technology refers to:
- Applying a thin refractive coating to improve brilliance
- Using 3D scanning data to simulate how a rough stone would look if cut to various shapes (Correct answer)
- Digitally removing inclusions from a plot image for marketing
- Programming a laser to engrave decorative patterns on a finished stone
Correct answer: Using 3D scanning data to simulate how a rough stone would look if cut to various shapes
Virtual faceting uses 3D scans of rough diamonds to model optimal cutting yields and final appearance before any physical cutting begins.
CDG Technology & Digital Tools 3
Raman spectroscopy is preferred over FTIR for confirming a stone is diamond because it specifically identifies: