J-Secure

The first-ever mounted diamond jewelry detector. It can detect lab-grown diamonds from a set of mounted diamonds in necklaces, bangles and rings.

Project type

A client project for DRC Techno, done while I was working at ONIO Design as a product designer. The product is launched in the market.

My role

Lead designer: HMI design, industrial design

Outcome

50% reduction in enclosure footprint, for more desktop-friendly usage
200% increase in scanning surface area
10% less required hardware
Outperformed competition on throughput

Tested under the Assure Program 1.0
	DRC J-Secure	De Beers
Novice Speed	~1103 stones/hr	~583 stones/hr
Expert Speed	~1103 stones/hr	~583 stones/hr
Accuracy (core sample)	88.0 %	99.3 %
Operator involvement	Automated	Manual interpretation
Launch price	$22,499	$18,500

Project snapshot

Distinguishing natural from lab-grown diamonds

Synthetic or lab-grown diamonds are a serious threat to the diamond and jewelry industry. They cost about 30-40% less and show up as positive on diamond tester machines, as the chemical composition is the same.

DRC Techno, a subsidiary of Dharmanand Diamonds, pioneered a scanner that detects them in all sizes and shapes. Now they were working on the first one for mounted jewelry.

Outcome and impact

Reduced machine footprint for more desktop-friendly usage
Doubled the throughput compared to competitors
Optimized the physical-digital workflow
Reduced required hardware
Created a visual UI kit for future versions

Client-side machine prototype

Challenge and early evaluation

Rethinking the machine’s form and interface

DRC approached us with a prototype: a scanning bed on two X and Y-axis linear motors with an overhead camera. The enclosure was about 3 x 3 x 3 feet, on a similar-sized pedestal with castors.

Key issues identified:

Oversized footprint
The 3 × 3 ft scanning rig occupied too much floor space for diamond retail environments, where counter and workspace space is valuable.
Poor workspace integration
The overall form and proportions needed to be reconsidered to create a more refined product that could sit comfortably alongside other equipment on a jeweler's desk or counter.

Client-side HMI for loose diamond scanning

Client-side interface

The client asked me to use the existing D-Secure interface as a starting point. However, it had originally been designed for loose diamond scanning, so it needed to be reworked for jewelery inspection. I conducted a UX audit to identify issues with the visual hierarchy, navigation, clarity of controls and presentation of scanning results.

Redesigning the mechanism

Rethinking how jewelery is scanned

Instead of moving a flat scanning bed along two axes, I proposed rotating the jewellery on a cylindrical scanning surface.

This allowed the camera to scan the entire piece along a single axis, reducing mechanical complexity while increasing the scanning area.

Just two axes were enough to cover the entire scanning area.

Sizing the display prop and designing the grid

The entire machine was essentially sized around the prop. Its size was a function of the touch screen's aspect ratio, to maximize screen real estate when displaying the prop on the interface.

I also designed a grid system as a function of the scanning camera's field of view.

Prototyping the mechanism with engineers

The redesigned schematic was prototyped on the client side for feasibility, and it made the machine small enough to fit on a tabletop.

The new approach changed more than the physical mechanism. It also changed how scanning data was captured and presented.

I mapped the cylindrical scanning surface onto a 12-cell grid, allowing the camera to systematically cover the jewelry while giving users a clear visual reference for individual scan areas.

Physical and software processes

Next challenge

Redesigning the scanning software

The scanning process involved a close interplay between physical and software interactions. Users needed to move between the machine and the interface to inspect jewelery, review scan results and recheck specific areas. I mapped both processes together to understand the different paths, dependencies and decision points the interface needed to support.

I translated these requirements into an information architecture, organising the interface around job details, grid navigation, scanning functions and utilities. The architecture prioritised frequently used actions while keeping secondary functions accessible without adding unnecessary depth to the navigation.

Final interface

The final interface

Interface layout

Right on top are the job details, which update automatically after each scan
On each cell is the cell number and scan details, greyed out until you make a scan, then color-coded
At the bottom is the grid scroll, with the CTA field aligned to the right

Grid layouts for the neckwear and bangle props

Grid layout for neckwear prop

Grid layout for bangle prop

Grid layout

Two different grids: one for larger jewelry like necklaces and chokers, and a higher resolution one for bangles and bracelets.

User flows

User flow: Physical

The scanning process begins with the physical interaction. The machine door doubles as a ramp, allowing users to stage the jewelry and slide it into position. Once the prop is inside, the door closes and locks to create a completely dark environment for scanning.

From this point on, the process continues over on the HMI

User flow: Interface

Once the door is locked and scanning begins, the HMI guides the user through the process. Users can choose between automatic and manual scanning, preview the jewelry on a grid, select specific areas to scan, and review results. The interface is designed to give users flexibility and control while keeping the scanning process clear and easy to follow.