Dubai
Peter Meeus, Chief Executive Officer of International Diamond Laboratory said: “These are challenging times for the industry but compared to other parts of the world, the Middle East is still a growth region and for us this market will remain a key focus this year. Opening a new office in KSA is an important step because of the market’s leading position, accounting for 80% of diamond consumption in the region.”
Peter Borgmans who is the Chief Quality Controller at the International Diamond Laboratory will take on the role of General Manager for its KSA operations.
In another strategic move, the International Diamond Laboratories has introduced grading services for coloured stones and diamond jewellery to capitalise on the growing consumer demand for certified colored stones like rubies, emeralds and sapphires. The laboratory has appointed Francesco Nathale, a specialist in the area as Chief Gemologist- Coloured Stones & Jewellery. He joins the laboratory from IGI where he served as Lab Director for 5 years.
“This is a newly created position in the company to cater to the growing consumer demand for certified coloured stones and jewellery. Our main aim is to assure consumers of the quality of gemstones. Our certificate will assure them that the gemstones they have purchased are genuine. Nathale will lead a team of specialists who are trained to distinguish between natural, treated and synthetic gemstones and grade colour, clarity and cut, which can relate to the value of the stone, “ said Peter Meeus.
According to him the gemstone grading and certification industry has seen major growth in the last decade. The factors contributing to this growth are the prevalence of synthetic stones in the market, availability of new gemstone treatments, the global growth of gemstone industry and consumer demand for gemstones.
International Diamond Laboratories is a subsidiary of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and a Dubai Government initiative to boost consumer confidence in diamonds through certification of polished diamonds and diamond jewellery; and education programmes for retailers and consumers.