The International Colored Gemstone Association’s laboratory arm, ICA-GemLab, will open India’s first dedicated gemological laboratory for coloured gemstones in Surat, Gujarat, this October. The move is part of the company’s global expansion and is expected to strengthen Surat’s standing as a hub for diamonds and coloured gemstones.
The facility will offer gemological testing, identification and certification services for diamonds, coloured gemstones and jewellery to the Indian gems and jewellery industry. It will issue three types of reports: Diamond Reports, Coloured Gemstone Reports and Jewellery Reports.
Its services will be open to manufacturers, wholesalers, traders, retailers, jewellery brands, designers, industry professionals and consumers.
ICA-GemLab India will be headed by Kalpesh Desai as Director. Pointing to Surat’s role in the country’s diamond industry, Desai said, “India has a significant share of the world’s diamond processing, with Surat being one of its key centres. Our aim is to provide direct access to our internationally established analytical methods and reporting standards to manufacturers, traders, retailers, designers and consumers.”
He added, “We are working with a long-term plan. Our aim is to provide reliable gemological information, documented methodologies and analysis that can help traders and consumers make decisions based on appropriate information.”
Amira Hatta, Managing Director, ICA-GemLab Global, said, “India is one of the most important markets in the global gems and jewellery industry. Opening a laboratory in Surat will bring our analytical capabilities directly to this market, so that customers will have access to our services closer to where they operate.”
ICA-GemLab is headquartered in Bangkok and has offices in Dubai and Hong Kong. It also has a partnership with Sri Lanka’s National Gem & Jewellery Authority.
