New York: EGL USA has responded to recent announcements of the closure of EGL International and the reorganization of the international EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) network by stressing that it does not have any connection with the bodies, reports IDEX Online.

Yaakov Tversky, director of EGL USA, said, “Recently, EGL’s overseas laboratories announced plans to close and/or reorganize. This is a big news story. But it has nothing to do with us. We are not part of EGL International or any other EGL overseas entities, and we will never be part of their proposed network. We are not them.

“EGL USA supports genuine gemology — GIA grading standards applied by GIA- and FGA-trained gemologists using GIA-graded master stones and state-of-the-art equipment. Flights of fancy like ‘face-up grading’ and made-to-order standards have no place in gemology. Simply put, the tactics of EGL International and its network have hurt our industry. And EGL USA has been fighting against these tactics and these labs for over a decade. We have done this in federal court, the US Patent and Trademark Office, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and even the press. But, more importantly, we have done this by providing hundreds of thousands of accurate, consistent gemological reports for nearly 40 years.

“The only thing that EGL USA is announcing this week is our continuing commitment to exceptional gemological science and service. For EGL USA, that’s business as usual.”

Last week, EGL appointed Menahem Sevdermish as its global manager. Sevdermish will manage and oversee the diamond grading activities of all EGL affiliates and will direct the network’s global policies and communications.