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DeBeers' has formally opened their new grading lab. Called the International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR), current locations include Maidenhead UK, Surat India and Antwerp Belgium. Take-in begins on March 1, 2016.
Depending on progress in the Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and European markets, a USA lab may be in the works.
Technology is being emphasized. "Falcon, Eagle and DART" are DeBeers' mechanical technology solutions for grading color, clarity and synthetics detection. Human graders double-check the results at present, but the idea is to improve repeatability and grading integrity in comparison to existing labs with subjective standards.
I can't decide how to pronounce IIDGR yet. Perhaps "Eye-Dee-Gee-Arr". Or maybe "Idgar" (think 'Edgar' in Monty-Python cockney). I'll distract myself with that while waiting to see what kind of cut-metric they're deploying.
Coverage in JCK Online:
http://www.jckonline.com/2016/02/22/look-out-gia-de-beers-opens-grading-lab-trade
Coverage on Rapaport
http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=54504
Depending on progress in the Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and European markets, a USA lab may be in the works.
Technology is being emphasized. "Falcon, Eagle and DART" are DeBeers' mechanical technology solutions for grading color, clarity and synthetics detection. Human graders double-check the results at present, but the idea is to improve repeatability and grading integrity in comparison to existing labs with subjective standards.
I can't decide how to pronounce IIDGR yet. Perhaps "Eye-Dee-Gee-Arr". Or maybe "Idgar" (think 'Edgar' in Monty-Python cockney). I'll distract myself with that while waiting to see what kind of cut-metric they're deploying.
Coverage in JCK Online:
http://www.jckonline.com/2016/02/22/look-out-gia-de-beers-opens-grading-lab-trade
Coverage on Rapaport
http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=54504