Methods for nondestructively measuring a characteristic within an ultra-hard polycrystalline construction comprises projecting a beam of energy from an emitter onto the construction. The energy is directed to a target region within the ultra-hard polycrystalline construction and passes through the construction where it is received by a detector. The target region can be within a diamond body of the construction, and can relate to an interface between two or more regions within the diamond body. The energy that is received by the detector is evaluated for the purpose of determining the desired measurement characteristic. In an example embodiment, the measured characteristic can be the interface of between two or more regions and the distance from a surface of the construction to the interface. The method can be used to generate an average distance within the construction, and to provide a visual image of the same in a nondestructive manner.