GIA to Grade Diamonds Up To 2.99 Carats in Mumbai

(IDEX Online News) - The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will now grade D- to Z-color diamonds of up to 2.99 carats at its Mumbai facility in a move said to better serve the Indian industry. Previously, only stones up to 1.99 carats were graded in Mumbai, and the larger stones were sent to GIA facilities in the U.S.

“Since we established our India laboratory in 2008, our team has worked diligently to reach out to the industry across the country said Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of GIA India and the Middle East. “The fact that we have consistently been receiving stones of higher carat weight proves the growing awareness in the trade of our Mumbai facility.”

The measure to increase the stone size is the latest in GIA’s on-going commitment to provide the highest standards of service to its clients, Bhatt added.

The GIA’s laboratory in Mumbai also accepts colored gemstones and pearls, which are forwarded to the appropriate GIA facilities for grading. The GIA provides free pick-up and delivery services from Mumbai’s downtown Opera House district, which currently houses the bulk of India’s diamond trading offices.