GIA Expanding Into Japan

(IDEX Online News) – GIA has announced plans to establish a laboratory in Japan in 2012. The decision comes as GIA as experiencing a surge in the lab's services, creating a backlog of a number of weeks.

In addition to developing a lab presence in Japan, a GIA facility in Israel is scheduled to open in 2012 in the Israel Diamond Exchange complex.

Both initiatives will benefit the Institute’s ongoing efforts to expand lab capacity, GIA said.

“We are excited to develop a presence in Japan,” said Donna Baker, president and CEO of GIA. “Japan, along with India and China, are the world’s leading diamond markets, behind the U.S.”

Baker added, “GIA’s mission is to promote the public trust in gems and jewelry and, as such, we will do everything within our means to carry forth this mission in Japan and to assist the Japanese diamond community in furthering these goals.”

Further details on the GIA facility and services in Japan will be announced at a later date