Sunraj Diamond Exports Ltd. has wrapped up an exciting plan to bring into India in about a year, the latest technology for the production of lab-grown diamonds, to enable the Indian industry to diversify its production and offer studded jewellery products at competitive prices. Sunil Gandhi, a Director of the company engaged in diamond industry in Russia, informed the Diamond World about this proposition during his brief visit to Mumbai.

Sunil Gandhi and his brother Rajesh Gandhi have set up diamond manufacturing facility in Russia, based mainly on rough diamonds available from Yakutia and other sources. However, in these difficult times Sunil Gandhi seems to be devoting attention to the proposed project for lab grown diamonds to be set up in India. In an interesting chat with this correspondent he threw more light on this project as well as lab-grown diamonds .

Excerpts :
Diamond World : Currently, two types of technologies are being used in the manufacture of lab-grown diamonds in the world: (a) Carbon Vapour Deposition Technology (CVD); and (b) High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) technology. Which technology do you intend to use in your proposed diamond project ?

Sunil Gandhi : It will be HPHT technology.

Diamond World : This technology seems to have been successfully developed by Russia. Will you be obtaining this technology directly from there ?

Sunil Gandhi : Not quite so. A unit for the manufacture of lab-grown diamonds has been set up by some entrepreneurs in one of the countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that separated themselves from the Soviet Union in 1990s. A diamond manufacturing unit has come up there based, of course, on Russian technology. We want to bring that unit to India. We have made our investments in it.

Diamond World : Is CIS unit about which you are talking already in production or is it yet to start production ?

Sunil Gandhi : It has been in production for about six months now.

Diamond World : Can you give some idea of the types of diamonds produced by the CIS unit ?

Sunil Gandhi : Currently it produces about 50 diamonds a month, each weighing 5 carat and up.

Diamond World : What about the colors of these diamonds ?

Sunil Gandhi : They are mainly shades of orange and deep yellow in color. It is however, possible to produce diamonds of other colors as well (while saying this Gandhi unfolded several packets of such diamonds to display the beautiful range of colors that can be achieved).

Diamond World : Do you see any possibility of further diversification in the production range of this unit ?

Sunil Gandhi : Currently, this unit is concentrating on the production mainly of rough diamonds each weighing 5 carat and up. Besides, production of diamonds of smaller sizes may also be taken up.

Diamond World : How much time does it take to convert the raw-material into a diamond ?

Sunil Gandhi :The time taken to convert raw-material into a diamond, depends upon the size of the diamond to be produced. The bigger the size, the need for conversion time is also more. Roughly one can say, it may take between six hours to 4-5 days.

Diamond World : Does this unit adopt a piece-process or batch-process for the production of diamonds ?

Sunil Gandhi : It follows the piece process, turning out one diamond at a time. Production can be enlarged by installing more machines.

Diamond World : Can you give some idea of the prices at which such lab-grown diamonds may become available to the consumers ? Or to what extent will they be competitive compared with the natural diamonds ?

Sunil Gandhi : These diamonds will be available to consumers at around one fourth to one-third the price of similar natural diamonds.

Diamond World : What about the properties of such diamonds compared with those of natural diamonds.

Sunil Gandhi : Physical, chemical and optical properties of lab-grown diamonds will be the same as those of natural diamonds. They will satisfy the need of everyone who wants to acquire a diamond at an affordable price.

Diamond World : Will it be possible to have these diamonds graded and certified by recognized laboratories ?

Sunil Gandhi : Yes. It is possible to get them graded and certified. We currently keep certified stones at our office.

Author: - M.D. Dewani