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India Today
5 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
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
Project Sugamya to improve accessibility for disabled passengers at Palakkad Railway Station
Mangaluru: In a significant step towards further enhancing travel accessibility for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, Palakkad Railway division on Monday launched Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers at Palakkad Railway Station . This initiative, supported by the Swarga Foundation in collaboration with the International Gemological Institute (India), was formally inaugurated by Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, divisional railway manager, Palakkad. Indian Railways has consistently endeavoured to improve infrastructure and services for differently-abled passengers. Facilities such as lifts, designated ramps, accessible toilets, and wheelchair services are already available across many stations in the division. The launch of Project Sugamya is another initiative by introduces mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs to make rail travel even more barrier-free and dignified. As part of the project, 24 lightweight mobile ramps and 24 specially designed wheelchairs were formally handed over for deployment across 20 major stations in the Palakkad division. The stations include Palakkad Junction, Nilambur Road, Pollachi Junction, Ferok, Vadakara, Tanur, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Thalassery, Shoranur Junction, Ottappalam, Kuttippuram, Pattambi, Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction, Kozhikode, Parpanangadi, Kannur, and Tirur. These mobile ramps will facilitate seamless boarding and alighting from coaches, while the customised wheelchairs will support safe and independent movement within the station premises and inside trains. Speaking at the event, Arun Kumar Chaturvedi said, "The addition of mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs will provide greater convenience, safety, and independence to our differently-abled passengers."
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Palakkad Division introduces lightweight mobile ramps and specially designed wheelchairs at major stations
Palakkad Division of Southern Railway on Monday, April 28, launched Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers at Palakkad Railway Station. As part of the project, 24 lightweight mobile ramps and 24 specially designed wheelchairs were formally handed over for deployment across 20 major stations in the Palakkad Division, including Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction, said a release. The initiative, supported by the Swarga Foundation in collaboration with the International Gemological Institute, India, was inaugurated by Divisional Railway Manager Arun Kumar Chaturvedi. The Division said Indian Railways has consistently endeavoured to improve infrastructure and services for differently-abled passengers, with Palakkad Division being at the forefront of these efforts. Facilities such as lifts, designated ramps, accessible toilets, and wheelchair services were already available across many stations. The launch of Project Sugamya further strengthens these initiatives by introducing mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs to make rail travel even more barrier-free and dignified, the release said. The mobile ramps would facilitate seamless boarding and alighting from coaches, while the customised wheelchairs would support safe and independent movement within the station premises and inside trains, it said. Mr. Chaturvedi said 'The addition of mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs will provide greater convenience, safety, and independence to our differently-abled passengers. We appreciate the contributions of Swarga Foundation and IGI India towards making this vision a reality.'
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- The Hindu
Palakkad Railway Division launches Project Sugamya
In a significant step towards further enhancing travel accessibility for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, Palakkad Railway Division launched Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers at Palakkad Railway Station on Monday. This initiative, supported by the Swarga Foundation in collaboration with the International Gemological Institute (India), was formally inaugurated by Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad. As part of the project, 24 lightweight mobile ramps and 24 specially designed wheelchairs were formally handed over for deployment across 20 major stations in the Palakkad Division. The stations are Palakkad Junction, Nilambur Road, Pollachi Junction, Ferok, Vadakara, Tanur, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Thalassery, Shoranur Junction, Ottappalam, Kuttippuram, Pattambi, Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction, Kozhikode, Parpanangadi, Kannur, and Tirur. These mobile ramps will facilitate seamless boarding and alighting from coaches, while the customised wheelchairs will support safe and independent movement within the station premises and inside trains. Mr. Arun Kumar Chaturvedi said, 'Indian Railways is committed to building an inclusive and accessible travel environment for all. The addition of mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs will provide greater convenience, safety, and independence to our differently-abled passengers.
Fashion Value Chain
24-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
IGI D Show 2025 Celebrates Craft & Collaboration in Diamonds
The 21st edition of the IGI D Show 2025, hosted at Mumbai's prestigious Jio World Centre, marked a dazzling milestone for the diamond industry. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the International Gemological Institute (IGI), the event reinforced its position as India's leading platform for exclusive diamond showcases. Over three days, the exhibition brought together 60+ top-tier diamond jewelry manufacturers and elite retailers from across the country. With more than 100,000 intricate and luxurious designs on display, the show was a testament to India's evolving design language—balancing timeless elegance with contemporary flair. The event's inauguration saw the presence of industry stalwarts including Tehmasp Printer, MD & CEO of IGI, alongside key figures such as Ashraf Motiwala (A. S. Motiwala), Arnav Mehta (Blue Star Diamonds), and Rajeev Popley (Popley Group), among many others. These dignitaries emphasized the show's significance in forging strategic partnerships, promoting craftsmanship, and advancing the business of gems and jewelry on both national and international stages. Each exhibitor reflected IGI's global standards of quality, authenticity, and precision, with collections ranging from lavish bridal jewelry to edgy, fashion-forward designs. The pieces appealed to a diverse audience—from young trendsetters to heritage-conscious buyers and collectors. This year's theme, 'The Artisans Behind the Allure,' celebrated not just the brilliance of diamonds but the skilled craftsmanship and generational artistry that underpin the industry. The show embodied IGI's half-century of dedication to gemological expertise and its continued mission to inspire, innovate, and elevate the global jewelry sector. More than just a trade event, the IGI D Show 2025 became a hub of insightful networking, trend forecasting, and collaborative growth—solidifying India's stature as a diamond destination in the international marketplace.
