Mumbai: With its Mumbai grading lab taking more than four months to grade and return clients’ diamonds, the Gemological Institute of America may open a facility in the Indian manufacturing hub of Surat.

A GIA release said it will “study the feasibility” of a second India lab, which would be the GIA’s 10th worldwide. It did not provide a possible timetable.

In the release, GIA’s board of governors attributed the current high demand for its reports—which has led to unprecedented delays—to three factors: banks requesting grading reports to substantiate loans; greater concern about undisclosed synthetics, which has led to increased screening of small stones; and a general boost in demand for GIA reports, particularly for gems under a half-carat.