Mumbai: The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will soon be launching a Diamond Detection Resource Center (DDRC) at the Indian Diamond Institute, Surat (IDI). The centre will be operated and managed by the IDI, and will be fully equipped to detect synthetic diamonds.

Opening of the DDRC will help small and medium enterprises in the city to detect cases of undisclosed mixing of synthetic diamonds with natural diamonds. The centre is being inaugurated at a time when there has been much discussion in the media related to a few instances of undisclosed mixing of synthetics being detected by the trade. It will provide the local trade access to reasonably priced, quick testing facilities.

The Surat DDRC will have access to all the latest equipment for quick and easy detection of synthetic diamonds. It will follow the same procedures and operate along the lines of the DDRC set up by GJEPC within the premises of Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai over a year ago. The DDRC project was initiated by the Natural Diamond Monitoring Committee (NDMC) formed jointly by GJEPC, Mumbai Diamond Merchant Association (MDMA), Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF). The Mumbai DDRC is being operated and managed by Gemmological Institute of India (GII).