De Beers has announced that it will be expanding its diamond grading facility in Surat, India.
The International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR), a De Beers subsidiary, plans to invest US$5 million to develop the centre. This will go toward building an additional floor in the existing building, adding a further 10,000 square feet to the centre’s current 15,000 square foot space.
The move follows the Group’s initial investment of US$10 million in 2015 to establish the Surat facility, which has the capacity to process over US$500 million of diamonds every year. The enhanced facility represents a world-leading resource for India’s diamond cutting and polishing sector, providing polished diamond grading services, diamond verification services, as well as melee (small diamond) testing and screening.
“From cutting and polishing rough diamonds to consumer demand for diamond jewellery, India is vital to the diamond industry and the diamond industry is vital to India,” says Jonathan Kendall, president of the IIDGR. “Through the IIDGR, De Beers Group is investing in innovations to ensure India maintains its position as a global diamond hub, as well as ensuring that the sector has the skills and tools to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
At this time, De Beers will also reveal its new educational service, which will be comprised of courses in polished diamond grading, diamond foundation, and synthetics. The program is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2017.
