International Gemological Institute [IGI] launched an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited laboratory for certification of loose diamonds and diamond jewelry in Karol Bagh, New Delhi on February 7. 

This is IGI’s first lab in New Delhi. Previously, jewelers availed to IGI’s mobile lab of the Diamond Window services. While the mobile labs enabled jewelers to get their diamond jewelry certified at their own showrooms; the Diamond Window enabled jewelers to have their diamonds certified from IGI’s lab in Mumbai within a week of depositing the diamonds in the Diamond Window.

Roland Lorie, CEO, IGI-Worldwide said, “IGI always endeavors to efficiently service the needs of its customers across the world. Our New Delhi laboratory and Diamond Window Service is a step in this direction, bringing one global service to the doorstep of jewelry trade and consumers of North India.”

Tehmasp Printer, MD, IGI India added, “With the accreditation received from ISO/IEC 17025:2005, IGI facilities have proved the extensive technical expertise and gemological procedures in its certification services to the trade. Today, in the midst of multitudes of gemological laboratories, IGI stands out as the only laboratory to have accredited ISO/IEC 17025:2005.”

IGI’s New Delhi outlet will also offer courses like polished diamond grading program, rough diamond grading program, private program for corporate, polished diamond graduate program, colored stone identification program and retail sales program for retailers and jewelers.

Established in Antwerp in 1975, IGI began operations in India nine years back. Besides the newly-launched New Delhi lab, IGI has three labs in Mumbai and Kolkata. Presently over 5 million IGI certified gems and jewels are traded in more than 100 countries.