The Helium scanner is an automated optical measurement instrument manufactured by Octonus, a Russian-founded software and hardware company specialising in diamond analysis technology. Designed for use in diamond manufacturing, grading laboratories, and trading operations, the instrument captures high-resolution images of a polished diamond from multiple angles and derives a comprehensive set of cut-quality parameters with a precision that surpasses manual measurement. It is among the most widely adopted proportion-analysis tools in the contemporary diamond trade.

How It Works

The Helium scanner operates on structured-light and optical imaging principles. A polished diamond is placed on the instrument's stage, and the system acquires images from a series of calibrated viewpoints, typically covering the full circumference of the stone. Proprietary software developed by Octonus processes the image data to reconstruct the three-dimensional geometry of the diamond, identifying each individual facet and calculating its precise angular orientation and dimensions.

The output report includes:

• Table size as a percentage of average girdle diameter
• Crown angle and crown height percentage
• Pavilion angle and pavilion depth percentage
• Total depth percentage
• Girdle thickness (minimum, maximum, and average)
• Culet size
• Star facet and lower-girdle facet length ratios
• Symmetry deviations, including off-centre table, off-centre culet, and wavy girdle assessments

These parameters align with the proportion categories used in major grading systems, making the data directly applicable to cut-grade determination under frameworks such as those employed by the GIA or the AGS.

Integration and Data Output

One of the Helium scanner's practical advantages is its compatibility with downstream software environments. Measurement data can be exported in formats readable by Octonus's own DiamCalc modelling software, which allows operators to simulate the optical performance — including light return, fire, and scintillation patterns — of the measured stone. This integration between physical measurement and optical modelling is particularly valuable for manufacturers seeking to optimise cutting decisions before committing to a final polish, and for laboratories wishing to append detailed proportion data to grading reports.

Role in the Trade

Diamond manufacturers use the Helium scanner at multiple stages of the cutting and polishing process to monitor whether a stone is tracking towards its intended proportions and to detect deviations that require corrective work. In grading laboratories, the instrument provides an objective, repeatable measurement record that reduces reliance on manual calliper readings or loupe-based estimation. For traders and dealers, a Helium proportion report accompanying a stone offers a verifiable, machine-generated record of cut quality that can support pricing discussions and buyer confidence.

The instrument competes in the same category as other automated proportion scanners used in the industry, though Octonus's combination of hardware and integrated modelling software has established a distinct position, particularly among manufacturers working with round brilliants and fancy shapes where precise facet geometry is commercially significant.

Limitations

Like all optical scanning systems, the Helium scanner measures external geometry and does not assess internal characteristics such as clarity features, fluorescence, or colour. Its output is a proportion and symmetry report, not a grading report; the interpretive judgements that translate raw measurements into cut grades remain the responsibility of the grading laboratory or the operator applying the relevant grading standard. Additionally, very small stones or unusually shaped cuts may present challenges for automated facet identification, requiring manual verification of the output data.