Latest news with #GemologicalInstituteofAmerica
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Sparkling potential in gemmology
As industries evolve and the demand for ethically-conscious, scientifically-skilled professionals increase, gemmology is fast gaining traction, said Gemological Institute Malaysia sales and marketing manager Tan Zhi Peng. He said for students with a passion for precious gems and a curiosity for how the natural world intersects with design and business, Malaysia's gem and jewellery industry presents growing and meaningful opportunities. 'Gemmology is the scientific study of gemstones, encompassing their formation, properties, identification and classification. 'In an era where authenticity and ethical sourcing are important, gemmology ensures the integrity of the jewellery industry,' Tan explained, adding that it enables professionals to verify the origin, quality and authenticity of gemstones, thereby building consumer trust and upholding industry standards. Professionals entering the field, he stressed, must be well-versed in international certification standards, such as those from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), or hold a diploma in gemmology. Awareness of global ethical sourcing practices is also essential. 'There is a growing consumer demand for transparency and ethical sourcing. 'Consumers are increasingly seeking certified gemstones that are conflict-free and sourced responsibly, with considerations for environmental sustainability and fair labour practices. 'Understanding the properties and value of gemstones enables professionals to make informed decisions in design aesthetics, pricing strategies, and marketing,' he said. He also pointed out that Malaysia's gem and jewellery industry saw jewellery exports reach RM7.7bil in 2023 – up from RM7.39bil in 2022. According to projections, he said the Malaysian jewellery market, valued at approximately US$10.11bil (RM47.58bil) in 2022, is expected to grow to US$12.45bil (RM58.52bil) by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. 'Export-wise, Malaysia has established itself as a significant player, particularly in the gold jewellery segment, with key export destinations including Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. 'The industry's growth and the increasing emphasis on ethical practices have expanded the demand for skilled professionals in these areas,' he added. He highlighted Tomei Consolidated Berhad as an example of a prominent Malaysian company offering a variety of career opportunities for gemmology graduates. 'Gemmology graduates have diverse career opportunities, including roles such as gemstone appraisers, jewellery designers, quality control specialists, auction house consultants and retail managers. 'At our institution, gemmology education provides a solid foundation in the scientific aspects of gemstones, which is invaluable for careers in jewellery design, appraisal, and merchandising,' he said, adding that specialised roles like gemstone appraisal and auction house consultancy are also becoming increasingly sought-after. 'These professionals play a critical role in the market for high-value and investment-grade jewellery. 'Their expertise ensures accurate valuation for insurance, resale and investment, making them indispensable in a growing industry,' he said.
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Lab Grown Diamonds set to lose 4Cs certification; will buyers really bother?
Would you buy a diamond if it did not have the 4Cs certification? The natural diamond industry, crumbling under the onslaught of technology-driven Lab Grown Diamonds (LGDs), is certainly hoping you wouldn' a desperate bid to deter consumers from buying tech-driven diamonds, which have flooded the market at a third of the price of natural diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America, one of the world's leading diamond grading agencies, has announced it will no longer use its internationally recognised 4Cs grading system for laboratory-grown beginning later this year, lab-grown diamonds submitted to the GIA will receive simplified descriptors—categorised broadly as either 'premium' or 'standard', or no grade at all if the quality is value of diamonds is decided on the basis of the 4 Cs—colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. There are several grading agencies the world over, of which the GIA, International Gemological Institute (IGI) and Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD) are the most respected. The latter two particularly hold weight in Europe and Asia while the GIA has global acceptance. The decision to discontinue the grading for LGDs is meant to emphasise their difference from natural diamonds. Henry Smith, head of sales at the Institute of Diamonds, a part of the De Beers Group, said the GIA's move is more than a simple nomenclature change. 'The GIA's adoption of a distinct grading framework for LGDs is a significant advancement in safeguarding the gemological integrity of the diamond industry. Natural diamonds are rare geological treasures formed under immense heat and pressure over billions of years. Applying the same 4Cs grading system to lab-grown synthetics, which are produced in a matter of weeks in controlled environments, can lead to misinterpretation of value and rarity. The GIA's move supports a more accurate and transparent classification system that aligns with the scientific and commercial realities of the two products,' explained the past two years, the global natural diamond market has seen an unprecedented 30 per cent correction in prices, driven by slowdown in sales, partially due to Covid-triggered economic slump. There is a glut of inventory while the demand is sluggish as new and low to medium-end buyers are shifting to natural diamond industry has been flummoxed about how to respond to this disruptor technology, which is threatening to uproot the centuries-old, billion dollars' worth of diamond mining, trading, polishing and uber premium jewellery sales industry. As a consequence, major diamond polishers and exporters in the Surat hub have reduced by more than half the wages and work hours of hundreds of thousands of artisans. This has created a socio-economic humanitarian crisis in Surat, where nine of every 10 diamonds sold the world over are Bhansali, chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India's apex jewellery trade body, said the GIA's decision to use descriptive terms instead of the 4Cs grading for LGDs is an important evolution in diamond classification. 'This will help eliminate confusion by clearly distinguishing how lab-grown diamonds are assessed, separate from the standards developed for natural diamonds. For India, as a leading hub for both natural and lab-grown diamonds, this change brings much-needed clarity and balance to the marketplace—allowing both categories to grow with greater transparency, integrity and consumer confidence,' he producers in India are disappointed but not particularly perturbed by the GIA's decision. 'We will approach other grading agencies—for instance, IGI—to certify our product and take our business there. For the domestic market, Indian grading agencies such as the Gemological Institute of India (GII) will gain traction,' said Shashikant Shah, chairman of the LGD Council of India. He added that this move exposes the panic seeping into the natural diamond industry as they are desperate to reverse the global slide in prices of natural diamonds and clear their inventory worth hundreds of crores of to India Today MagazineTrending Reel
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
GIA not to use 4C system to grade lab-grown diamonds
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), considered the world's foremost authority on gemmology, said later this year, it will start using descriptive terms to characterise the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds and no longer use colour and clarity nomenclature it had developed for natural diamonds and been in use since 1953. It means GIA will drop its traditional 4Cs (Colour, Clarity, Cut & Carat Weight) diamond grading system for lab-grown diamonds to ensure clear demarcation between natural and man-made diamonds. Later this year, lab-grown diamonds handed over to GIA will receive simplified descriptors—categorised broadly as either 'premium' or 'standard'— or no grade at all if the quality is subpar. The institute said it would continue to accept laboratory-grown diamonds for evaluation and identification. 'Similar to other man-made gem materials, we anticipate the continued acceptance and popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds,' said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice-president and chief laboratory and research officer in a statement. Amit Pratihari, Managing Director, De Beers India said, 'GIA's decision is a timely and important move that brings much-needed clarity to consumers. 'It reinforces the fundamental differences between natural diamonds and lab-grown — not just in origin, but in emotional and enduring value. We have always maintained that natural diamonds are rare, billions of years old, and deeply symbolic — a fact that resonates strongly with Indian consumers,' he said. Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said, 'This change will help eliminate confusion by clearly distinguishing how lab-grown diamonds are assessed, separate from the standards developed for natural diamonds.' 'For consumers, it brings greater transparency and ensures that purchasing decisions are based on a clear understanding of a diamond's origin and characteristics,' he said. 'For India, as a leading hub for both natural and lab-grown diamonds, this change brings much-needed clarity and balance to the marketplace — allowing both categories to grow with greater transparency, integrity, and consumer confidence,' he added.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GIA to introduce new descriptive grading system for lab-grown diamonds, phasing out traditional 4Cs
Beginning later this year, GIA (the Gemological Institute of America ) will start using descriptive terms to characterise the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) and will no longer use the colour and clarity nomenclature that GIA developed for natural diamonds. The Indian diamond trade said that for consumers, it brings greater transparency and ensures that purchasing decisions are based on a clear understanding of a diamond's origin and characteristics. The Institute will continue to accept laboratory-grown diamonds for evaluation and identification. The revised GIA description system for laboratory-grown diamonds will confirm that the submitted item is a laboratory-grown diamond and whether it falls into one of two categories, 'premium' or 'standard.' The categories will be defined by a combination of metrics related to colour, clarity and finish. If the man-made diamond fails to achieve the minimum standard for quality, it will not receive a designation from GIA. Until the revised descriptive system for laboratory-grown diamonds is finalised, the current GIA services for laboratory-grown diamonds will continue to be available. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo 'Similar to other man-made gem materials, we anticipate the continued acceptance and popularity of laboratory-grown diamonds,' said Tom Moses, GIA executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. 'More than 95% of laboratory-grown diamonds entering the market fall into a very narrow range of colour and clarity. Because of that, it is no longer relevant for GIA to describe man-made diamonds using the nomenclature created for the continuum of colour and clarity of natural diamonds.' Commenting on GIA's decision, Kirit Bhansali, chairman of Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said, 'GIA's decision to use descriptive terms instead of the famous 4Cs grading for laboratory-grown diamonds marks an important evolution in diamond classification. This change will help eliminate confusion by clearly distinguishing how lab-grown diamonds are assessed, separate from the standards developed for natural diamonds. For consumers, it brings greater transparency and ensures that purchasing decisions are based on a clear understanding of a diamond's origin and characteristics. For India, as a leading hub for both natural and lab-grown diamonds, this change brings much-needed clarity and balance to the marketplace, allowing both categories to grow with greater transparency, integrity, and consumer confidence.' Live Events GIA developed the universally accepted colour and clarity scales for natural diamonds in the 1940s to communicate their characteristics and reduce consumer confusion. This change to how GIA describes the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds will help consumers understand the important differences in the two products' origin, ensuring their confidence and enabling them to make informed and educated purchase decisions. Pricing and submission guidelines for the revised GIA service for laboratory-grown diamonds are in development and will be announced late in the third quarter. Existing GIA reports for laboratory-grown diamonds remain valid, a release issued by the institute said.
See - Sada Elbalad
27-05-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
106 Years Since Tolkowsky Invented The "Round" Diamond Cut
Waleed Farouk Today, Antwerp, Belgium, known as the "Diamond Capital of the World," celebrates 106 years since Belgian engineer Marcel Tolkowsky invented the ideal round brilliant cut for diamonds. In 1919, Tolkowsky published his famous book, "Diamond Design," in which he first presented precise mathematical calculations that determined the ideal dimensions and angles for cutting round diamonds to maximize their brilliance and sparkle. Tolkowsky is a name best known for the round brilliant cut, the most sought-after diamond shape in the world. A pioneer in diamond design, Tolkowsky established the ideal proportions for round brilliant diamonds in 1919 to maximize their brilliance and sparkle. What is a round brilliant diamond? It is the most popular diamond shape, consisting of 57-58 facets and offering a distinctive brilliance and sparkle. This design, which consists of 57 facets, is considered the gold standard in the diamond industry, ensuring maximum light reflection within the stone, giving it an exceptional brilliance. Many gemological institutes, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), have adopted it as the basis for evaluating cut quality. Marcel Tolkowsky? Marcel Tolkowsky was born on December 25, 1899, in Antwerp, Belgium, to a Jewish family of Polish origin known for their expertise in diamond cutting. He studied engineering at the University of London, where he completed his postgraduate studies in the field of light and reflection. In 1919, he published his famous book, Diamond Design, in which he presented the first mathematical model for perfect diamond cutting. Significance of His Invention: The Ideal Brilliant Cut Tolkowski is considered the founder of the "Ideal Round Brilliant Cut," also known as the American Cut or the Tolkowski Cut. His design was based on precise mathematical calculations of the diamond's dimensions and angles, with the goal of maximizing light reflection within the stone for maximum brilliance and radiance. The key specifications of his ideal cut include: Total Depth: 59.3% Crown Angle (Apex): 34.5° Pavilion Angle (Bottom): 40.75° Table Diameter: 53% Girdle Limit: 0 (in the original design, although this is impractical in practice). In 2019, the Antwerp Diamond Exchange (AWDC) held a special celebration on the city streets to mark the centenary of the invention. Fifty-seven Antwerp residents, from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, were invited to participate in the polishing of a single diamond, with each person polishing one facet. The project was named "100 Years of Brilliance," marking a century since Tolkowsky's creation. The polished stone was displayed at the Deva Diamond Museum in Antwerp, a testament to Tolkowsky's legacy and ongoing influence on the diamond industry. Gabi Tolkowsky, one of the world's most renowned diamond cutters, who polished the first facet of the stone, participated in the celebration. Gabi Tolkowsky passed away in May 2023, at the age of 84. These celebrations affirm Antwerp's continued leadership in the global diamond industry and the importance of innovation and diversity in preserving this precious legacy. Marcel Tolkowsky died on February 10, 1991, at the age of 91. His design for the perfect brilliant cut remains a recognized standard in the diamond industry, used as a basis for evaluating cut quality in laboratories and factories around the world. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
