Surat: The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) along with Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) launched the Diamond Detection and Resource Center (DDRC) on 3rd April, 2015 at the Indian Diamond Institute (IDI), Surat. The Facility was inaugurated by Chief Guest Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, Hon’ble Minster of Finance, Energy, Petro Chemicals & Mines, Tourism, Cottage & Salt Industry, Government of Gujarat & Guest of Honour Shri. Nanubhai Vanani, Hon’ble Minister of Sports, Youth Culture Activities, Water & Education, and Government of Gujarat lit the lamp and inaugurated the center along with Vice-Chairman, Mr. Pankaj Parekh and Regional Chairman, Mr. Chandrakant Sanghavi.
Mr. Pankaj Parekh, addressing the gathering said, “A centre like DDRC at Surat was an absolute necessity which is the hub for cut and polished diamonds. The facility will enable fast detection of synthetic diamonds in the natural diamond parcels. The small traders, who cannot afford the machine, can get their parcels tested at an affordable cost. The state-of-the-art Automated Melee Sorting (AMS) machines at DDRC can rapidly detect synthetic stones in parcels of small diamonds ranging from 0.01 – 0.20 carats in a cost effective manner.”
DDRC aims to identify and certify Synthetic diamonds and assist the industry with the required information associated with them so as to promote fair trade with full disclosure. The center will prove to be a great resource to aid companies to detect synthetic diamonds. The facility will enable the entrepreneurs with the means to eradicate the issue, while it is still at a germinating stage, thereby ensuring the purity of the diamond pipeline.
The vital machines installed at DDRC are: AMS machine, Diamond Check, Diamond Sure, Diamond View, Diamond Plus, Diamond Spotter, FTIR Spectroscopy, Raman spectrometer and D Screen. The AMS – Automated melee Screening Machine manufactured by De-beers is a useful and pivotal instrument for recognizing even minute-size diamonds.
The AMS machine can swiftly identify synthetic stones in parcels of small diamonds ranging from 0.01-0.20 cts in an affordable manner. The machine aims to address the market requirement for fast and cost-effective detection equipment for smaller sized diamonds which will prove to be advantageous to India. With these testing facilities, consumers can be assured that they will never be misled. Mr. Parekh requested Hon’ble minister to introduce differential VAT for synthetic diamonds in Gujarat State to differentiate it from natural diamond.
Gracing the event, Chief Guest Shri Saurabhbhai Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Energy, Petro Chemicals & Mines, Tourism, Cottage & Salt Industry, Government of Gujarat, Hon’ble Minister of Finance Industry, said that the mixing of Synthetic Diamond with Natural Diamond is like a disease for Diamond trade of Surat and India. When we are promoting ‘ Make in India’, such mixing is damaging the image of industry and country in the world. To stop the disease from becoming an epidemic, GJEPC and IDI together has taken the very timely step of setting up IDI-DDRC. This center will certainly help to continue with the confidence of the consumers on the industry, he added. Hon’ble Minister also emphasized for the setting up of jewellery units with necessary supporting infrastructure facility like banking, air-connectivity, SNZ in Surat to make SDB an international trading facility. Such activities not only boost the particular trade but also amplify other service industries like tourism, hotel, transport etc. He assured all his support to the industry in this regard and introduction of VAT on Synthetic Diamonds.
The DDRC wants to assist small and medium enterprises in the city to detect cases of concealed mixing of lab grown diamonds with the natural diamonds. The local trade will be able to access quick testing facilities which are affordable. They will be equipped with latest means for rapid and easy identification of all kinds of synthetic diamonds. It is set to follow the footsteps of the DDRC which is set up in Mumbai. The Centre will also offer services to diamond companies which comprises of technical and on-the-job training of their staff in the testing methods. Mr. Chandrakant Sanghavi presented vote of thanks and appreciated the support of Hon’ble Minister with respect to announcement of policy on Special Notified Zone for Diamond Industry.
The DDRC project has been conceptualized by the Natural Diamond Monitoring Committee (NDMC) launched jointly by GJEPC, Mumbai Diamond Merchant Association (MDMA), Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) and set up by GJEPC and IDI in Surat. They want to comprehend the issues faced by the industry and come up with solutions that will ensure that the consumer faith in the industry is maintained via segregation of the natural and man-made diamonds.
