The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) celebrated the completion of 10 years of its laboratory operations in India on January 11, 2018.

Ten years ago, the leading and world renowned institute opened its doors for gem identification and grading in its laboratory in Mumbai, India. GIA India Laboratory Pvt. Ltd. (GIA India) set up a  state-of-the-art laboratory which was opened in 2008 in the Bandra Kurla Complex, close to the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai, “to serve the needs of the globally important Indian diamond industry”.
 
At the recent GIA-hosted event for its clients, GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques and Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer Tom Moses, along with other executives, helped commemorate the significant anniversary.
 
“The anniversary marks a milestone in GIA’s continued commitment to India,” said Jacques. “Throughout these 10 years we have worked with trade associations including The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council and the Bharat Diamond Bourse to ensure that our offerings meet the needs of the Indian gem and jewellery industry while advancing our mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewellery.”
 
“Every year since GIA laboratory operations began, our focus has been to ensure the objectivity and accuracy of every grading report issued,” said Moses. “This is reinforced by our commitment to deliver innovative, research-based solutions – be it the GIA Melee Analysis Service or the GIA iD100™ – to address the needs of the trade and protect consumers. The recent announcement of the new GIA India laboratory in Surat is the latest example of that commitment.”
 
Speaking at the event, Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of GIA India and Middle East, said, “From 2008 until today, GIA India has seen its workforce grow from 60  --  37 of whom are still with us --  to more than 1,200. We are proud to support the growing demand of the Indian gem and jewellery industry for diamond grading reports. In these 10 years, we have worked with trade associations across India and conducted complimentary seminars to help members of the trade gain knowledge about gemmological standards.”
 
GIA India has also been extremely active in taking educational programmes across the country, since 2004. “Offerings include the prestigious GIA Graduate Gemologist, GIA Graduate Diamonds and GIA Graduate Colored Stones diploma programmes, and jewellery design courses,” GIA elaborated. “Additional classes and seminars are available for gem and jewellery professionals and those seeking education to support their careers. Since 2008, nearly 200 students of the GIA India school have been awarded more than US$ 1,150,000 in scholarships.”

Apart from its professional services,  GIA and its affiliates have played an important role in supporting  local communities and trade. “In India, they support the Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha (MKSSS), a school dedicated to the empowerment of women through education,” GIA said. “The Labham Programme offers a full day of training designed to create awareness for manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers on how to manage their businesses in a responsible and ethical manner in compliance with applicable laws. The Institute also offers Trade Education Seminars (TES) to provide gem and jewellery industry personnel with informative content about basic gemmology, gemmological research findings and more.”
 
Jacques concluded: “The Indian gem and jewellery sector has grown tremendously over the past decade, both in importance to the global trade and to the Indian economy. We are proud that GIA India has grown with it, offering expanded research-based diamond grading services and education for the next generation of gem and jewellery professionals.”

Pic Cap:

Praveenshankar Pandya, then Chairman of the GJEPC, presented a plaque commemorating the 10th anniversary of the GIA India laboratory to Susan Jacques, GIA President and CEO and Tom Moses, GIA Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer. Pictured (left to right) are: Matt Hall, GIA Vice President for Regional Laboratory Operations (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Russell Mehta, Managing Director of Rosy Blue (India) and then Vice Chairman of the GJEPC; Tom Moses; Praveenshankar Pandya; Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director for GIA India and Middle East; Susan Jacques; Sriram Natarajan, Vice President of Operations, GIA India laboratory.