There are already systems for tracking a diamond, from when it first emerges from a mine as a rough diamond, through the cutting and polishing phase and on to the retailer. The technology for producing lab-grown diamonds is improving all the time, and they are a fast-growing section of the market. But natural diamonds are considerably more expensive than lab-grown gems, so it is important to have a reliable way of telling them apart. It is also becoming crucial for diamond sellers to be able to distinguish between those that have come from mines, known as natural diamonds, and the growing number of diamonds produced by machines. Why do you think lasers are being used to write inside diamonds ?

