GIA (Gemological Institute of America) India organised a panel discussion on “Synthetic Diamonds: Challenges and Opportunities” at Ahmedabad on March 5, 2018 as part of its campaign to spread education and create awareness among the trade. The discussion aimed to focus attention both on the dangers of undisclosed mixing of naturals and synthetics, as well as the opportunities that exist for developing a synthetic diamond jewellery market with full disclosure.

Nirupa Bhatt, Managing Director of GIA India and Middle East, who moderated the discussion, said that the trade should encourage disclosure and ensure that diamonds are checked by a credible gemmological laboratory. She spoke of the similarities in the physical properties of both natural diamonds and synthetic diamonds making it difficult for a skilled jeweller or trained gemmologist to distinguish them by sight alone. She said that for a conclusive identification, specialised equipment and trained staff in a gemmological laboratory were essential.

She said that as a non-profit institute with a mission to protect the public, GIA works to inform the industry about synthetic diamonds and how to distinguish them, adding that the panel discussion was one of the many trade education seminars and consumer education seminars conducted by GIA.

Other speakers in the panel included Rohit Choksi of ‎Ishwarlal Harjivandas Jewellers and president of the Jewellers Association Ahmedabad; Jigar Soni of N. S. Jewels and secretary of the Jewellers Association Ahmedabad; Kailash Kabra of K. K. Jewels; Manoj Soni of A.B. Jewels and Raj Zaveri of Zaveri & Co. The association’s management committee was also present, along with many other members.

Discussions centred around the opportunities and challenges in synthetic diamonds including – but not limited to – millennials’ possible preference for synthetic diamonds, the market for synthetic diamond jewellery, detection and disclosure of lab-grown diamonds, consumer education about synthetic diamonds and more.

“We thank GIA for organising the panel discussion and sharing knowledge about synthetic diamonds,” said Rohit Choksi.  “We value the services that GIA offers the trade to get each of our diamonds checked – be it star, melee or larger sizes.”

Pic caption: The panellists (l to r) - Manoj Soni, Raj Zaveri, Nirupa Bhatt, Rohit Choksi, Jigar Soni and Kailesh Kabra