IGI flags off gem-testing lab in Kolkata

Banking on the fact that Kolkata accounts for 11 per cent of the total Indian diamond market, International Gemological Institute(IGI), a leading gemstones' testing and grading laboratory, today launched its third laboratory in India, and first in Kolkata, to cater to the growing market in the city.

The laboratory would test and grade gemstones and fine jewelry and would certify jewelry pieces using international standards and parameters to judge carat weight, clarity, colour and cut of a diamond.

The previous two laboratories in the country were in Mumbai. Kolkata received a mobile laboratory service earlier to cater to the jewelers in the region.

Given that the response from mobile laboratories was phenomenal in the region, IGI decided to go ahead and open a fully equipped laboratory in the city, said Tehmasp Printer, managing director.

The cost of opening a fully equipped laboratory with spectrometers, lasers, modern microscopes, and diamond master stones, was $100,000, he said, refusing to give the exact figure.

The company has plans of opening a loose stones grading center in the city as well very soon, said Printer. Currently, Mumbai has the only loose stones grading center in the country and stones would have to be couriered to the Mumbai laboratory for gradation.

It is also set to open a loose stones 'window service' in the city soon. It offers the service in Surat.

This would offer courier service to move stones from the city, with a certificate being delivered to the jeweler within a week. IGI's eastern India plans include spreading out to markets in Assam, Orissa and Bihar, said Tanmay Bejdas, manager of the Kolkata office.

Mobile laboratories will help IGI identify the prospective markets and the major jewelers, added Printer.

IGI has been growing at the rate of 20 percent over 2005-06 over mounted jewelry certifications, and according to company estimates Kolkata as a demand center for diamond certification has been growing at an equal rate.

The total Indian market for diamonds was 0.3 million carats per year, according to 2006 estimates of the Diamond Trading Company (DTC).

IGI issues around 1,000,000 certificates per year across the globe, and about 20 per cent of our total business comes from India, said Roland Lorie, chief executive officer of the Antwerp based IGI. IGI in India had around 200 employees in the country of the total global strength of 500.

IGI claimed about 33 per cent world market share in issuing certification of diamonds and other gem stones. IGI planned of opening a training school in Kolkata to train future gemologists, like its school in Mumbai.

Diploma in polished diamond is by far the most popular course in India, and it is all set to launch a new course in CAD programme in jewelry design in Mumbai from next week. Delhi will get a laboratory by the end of this year.