Gaborone: The De Beers Group of Companies yesterday announced that its International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) has launched its grading service in the Far East, Middle East, India and Europe.

Following an initial pilot testing of the service in the Far East, IIDGR will now also provide a grading service from each of its laboratories in Belgium, India and the UK. The service, which employs De Beers’ proprietary grading technology to provide outstanding accuracy and consistency, is suitable for all sizes, colours, shapes and qualities. However, the service will be available only for natural, untreated diamonds.

IIDGR will be presenting information on the grading service at the forthcoming Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show from 1 – 5 March, 2016. IIDGR will also showcase its range of diamond verification equipment at the Show, as well as providing information on its melee testing service.

Jonathan Kendall, President of IIDGR said: “Our service aims to provide diamantaires with total peace of mind when it comes to grading. The innovative technology solutions developed in-house at De Beers enable us to provide an extremely accurate and consistent service and our leading capabilities in diamond verification provides customers with an additional layer of confidence.

“When considering our grading service alongside our range of detection equipment and our melee testing service, IIDGR is breaking new ground in providing top quality, innovative, competitively priced and highly reliable diamond services.”

The IIDGR booth will be located at Asia World Expo Hall 7-D23.