The International Gemological Institute (IGI) has expanded its existing full-service gemological laboratory in Ramat Gan from 1,200 sq. ft to 3,500 sq. ft. The new office will open at the Yahalom Buildingm, where originally IGI’s 1,200 sq. ft office was opened in September. Israel is a major exporter of polished diamonds, most of them being certified, and IGI cites a growth in demand for its services. As such, it decided to expand its infrastructure.

. “We know the current economic situation is difficult and more than ever, Israel needs a major laboratory to support efficient and successful trades within the industry,” noted IGI CEO Roland Lorié. “We look forward to providing the area with better and faster gemological services in our new space.” The export figures, as per the annual list of Israel’s largest polished diamond exporters (published by the Israel Diamond Controller’s Office in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor), showed decreasing figures of polished exports for all exporters during 2008. The country’s total polished exports valued at $6.240 billion in 2008, decreasing by 12 percent over the corresponding figures in 2007 ($7.075 billion).

The IGI has been attending to needs of certification in Israel, through its Diamond Window Service since eight years before the first IGI office opened in Ramat Gan. The Diamond Window Service is an exclusive collection and distribution service through which, clients deposit products to be attended to by the full-service IGI Antwerp laboratory. IGI was the first lab to introduce a window service to the Israeli market and has continually seen a growth in its clientele.

An IGI Israel Gemological School is in the pipeline, to provide an opportunity to the Israeli diamond and gemstone industry to earn a globally recognised IGI diploma in gemology.