Morrisville: More than 10 leading grown diamond producers, distributors and retailers have come together to launch a global platform, the International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA). The first ever grown diamond industry association aims to represent the grown diamond industry, promote grown diamonds as a new choice in diamonds and educate about various unique qualities and applications of grown diamonds.

Founded in the US, the IGDA seeks to serve as the central point of communication, education, development and growth of the industry.

Patron Member and secretary general, Richard Garard who is also the CEO of the Microwave Enterprises, (US) said, “With IGDA, the grown diamond industry can effectively take the collective steps to present itself to consumers who wish to have a genuine choice in diamonds, commercial sectors who require high quality but a consistent supply to develop diamond-based applications, and the larger diamond processing industry, in general.”

IGDA will ensure that grown diamonds are presented in a fair and technically correct manner across geographies, commercial and consumer verticals.

Patron Member and Founding President, Vishal Mehta who is also the CEO of IIa Technologies (Singapore) said, “IGDA was conceptualized because we, as an emerging industry, felt the need to collectively represent grown diamonds on a global forum, share technical facts about growing diamonds and the technology involved, so that there’s an informed knowledge about the ‘value’, ‘beauty’ and ‘eco-advantages’ of grown diamonds.”

Other IGDA Founding Members include, Washington Diamonds, New Diamond Technology, Scio Diamond, Golcondia, Pure Grown Diamonds, Polished Diamond Company, Diamond Foundry, MiaDonna & Company and Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, will be instrumental in their contribution to support the grown diamond industry.