Ramat Gan: The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced the closure of its laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, citing financial unsustainability. The lab, which began operations in August 2012, will shut down by the end of this year. Submissions will be rerouted to other GIA laboratories at no additional shipping cost, according to a GIA press release.

GIA has not yet specified which laboratories will handle these redirected submissions, though the Dubai facility is the closest. It’s also unclear how much additional processing time may be involved.

“Despite reductions in operating costs and staffing adjustments, the laboratory is no longer financially viable,” stated GIA, which grades the majority of the world’s polished diamonds.

The Ramat Gan lab’s closure follows a drop in submissions from local clients due to shifts in the global diamond industry. GIA also closed its Antwerp lab in July 2022 for similar reasons, citing limited demand and insufficient financial performance.

Submissions to the Ramat Gan lab will be redirected starting November 17. GIA is also working on a third-party process to allow walk-in clients in Ramat Gan to submit items for processing at other GIA labs.