Biggest labs in the world

[Yupi]

Which are the biggest (Big 2, 3, 4?) labs in the world ?

Please advise with reference to number of certs issued per annum, number of employees, number of offices/branches, and growth rate.

I have not included profitability/ turnover above because I am being told some labs are not for profit organisations. Also, I have not referred to reputation of labs because it is a subjective matter.

 

[Brian Knox]

Date: 11/17/2004 6:54:37 AM
Author:Yupi
...
I am being told some labs are not for profit organisations...

Hi Yupi,

I''m sorry, I don''t know the answer to your question.

However, I think all of the major labs are not only ''for profit enterprises'', I think they are ''Cash Cows''

 

[denverappraiser]

Yupi,

The most reports are issued by IGI.
The highest total value examined is by GIA
The most workers is IGI. I wouldn''t have a clue if they are employees or if they hafve some other relationship. No one has ever asked this before.
I recall Zales has an in-house program in many of their stores that they call a lab. This would probably qualify as the most locations unless Wal-Mart has started something like this. I haven''t been in either variety of store lately.

Are you writing a paper?

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[Yupi]

Brian,

Thank you for your input. Huum......interesting comment.

Neil,

Thank you. You have mentioned 2 names, so I guess they are the Big Two?

No, I am not writing a paper but am hoping to become a GG and interested in the industry as a whole. Like you said, no one has really asked about this and on this basis, it appears that not many ppl are interested in this aspect of the industry?

 

[denverappraiser]

Yupi,

It gets a little difficult to define things like ''lab'' and ''bigger'' for this kind of discussion. Symantics become terribly important. EGL, for example, is not the same company as EGL-USA although many people count their products as being from the same lab. GG is a GIA product. Many customers are under the mistaken impression that an examination by someone with a GG is somehow endorsed by GIA when they grade a stone.

Some other big players are PGS and AGS. There are dozens. Non-profit status involves their relationship with IRS, not their relationship with their clients. As Brian points out, some non-profit organizations produce quite a bit of revenue.

Neil Beaty, GG ISA
Independent Appraisals in Denver

 

[pricescope]

EGL would be probably the third. You'd have to defferentiate, however, EGL USA and EGL oversees

{Added} Neil, you were 1 min ahead with more detailed answer

 

[strmrdr]

Dont quote me on this but I read someplace the top 6 by volume would be:
igi
gia
hrd
egl-non usa
egl-usa
ags


I dont recall where I read it or know how accurate it is.