International Gemological Institute

Operations and Services

• IGI has a staff of over 650 gemologists, appraisers, and professional office personnel.
• IGI has been at the forefront of technology since its commencement in 1975.
• IGI has created an Online Data Retrieval program and Registration and Recovery Service.
• IGI is developing methods to reliably distinguish between synthetic and natural diamonds.
• IGI provides services to diamond dealers and jewelry manufacturers, including grading reports, identification and appraisal reports, authentication and attestations of origin, and laser inscription services.

Market Position and Certifications

• IGI is the largest laboratory for certification of diamonds and fine jewelry.
• IGI has the only international certification lab controlled by one central governing body.
• IGI adheres to one internationally accepted system for diamond grading.
• IGI is ISO 9001:2000 certified in four countries.
• IGI collaborates with the Tanzanite Foundation for jewelry certificates using the Tanzanite Quality Scale.

Expansion

• IGI collaborated with the Tanzanite Foundation to create the Tanzanite Quality Scale.
• IGI opened a laboratory in Surat, India, marking its fifth diamond grading laboratory in India.

References:

• Jewelers Inc. article on International Gemological Institute.
• Blackstone acquires International Gemological Institute.
• Mid-America Jewelry News article on IGI's online services.
• Diamonds.net article on IGI offering a Rough Diamond course.
• JCK Online article about IGI.

Further Reading:

• Business Standard article on IGI's plans for a testing laboratory in New Delhi.
• Diamond World News Service article on IGI labs becoming ISO certified.
• Article on the importance of diamond certificates in the industry.
• New York Times article on adding brand names to nameless stones.
• Europa Star article on International Gemological Institute.

International Gemological Institute Data Sources