The allure of diamonds and diamond jewellery…
Gold jewellery has always been popular with Indians, but since the past few years it is diamond jewellery that has caught the fancy of younger and affluent buyers in India. During celebrations such as engagements, marriages and anniversaries, it is diamond jewellery which is the first choice. Diamonds are also bought as an investment since prices have been rising steadily over the years.
The four C’s which characterize diamonds are colour, carat, clarity and cut. On purchase of any diamond jewelry, the jeweler does issue a certificate stating the colour, carat, clarity and cut of the diamonds that are a part of the jewellery in question. However, it is in the consumer’s interest to get the diamond jewellery tested by independent laboratories.
What do the diamonds testing labs do?
Diamond testing labs are internationally renowned and enjoy high credibility. They are equipped with sophisticated equipment and are manned by highly skilled technicians. The 'Grading Report' issued by the laboratories certifies carat, clarity, colour and cut and whether the diamond is naturally-mined from earth or synthetically grown in lab.
Since synthetic diamonds have now entered the fray, India's Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council has asked Govt of India to assign separate HS codes (Harmonised System codes) for natural and lab-grown diamonds so that customers are easily able to differentiate between the two categories of diamonds. The International Organisation for Standardisation has ruled that man-made gems must be called synthetic or lab-grown or lab-created and not as real diamonds.