The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)
Buy and sell diamonds with the help of the experts
The new HRD Antwerp lab is located in the heart of the new diamond district.
HRD offers quality certification services in accordance with the IDC that reflect its pledge to ensure compliance with the same stringent quality standards applied in Antwerp, where its parent lab is located. The new facility is staffed with both local and Antwerp expert gemmologists.
REVENUE FROM DIAMONDS IS SET TO CONTRIBUTE US$600 MILLION TO FISCUS THIS YEAR.
The diplomats will visit four companies, Mbada, Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Corporation (DMC) and Anjin. They will also visit the ZRP Diamond Base.
Diamonds from Marange have courted controversy amid calls by civil society organisations that there is no transparency in the marketing of the gems.
Finance minister Tendai Biti has been complaining that Anjin has not been remitting money to treasury. Anjin is a joint venture between the Chinese and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.
Biti has said despite claims that the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) owns Anjin, the state entity had no equity in the diamond producer.
A hot-button topic in today’s diamond industry is the practice of extending credit to customers.
In several impassioned “State of the Diamond Industry” addresses, Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport said the jewelry industry cannot extend credit to customers anymore, and made clear his feelings on buying diamonds on credit (‘credit memo’).
“I’m going to blast the hell out of credit,” Rapaport said before launching into his tirade. “It makes me want to throw up.” He said that we simply cannot sell to people on credit anymore, and that diamonds at all levels of the trade must be sold to “real” buyers who actually have the money to pay for them.
“You need real people with real money,” he said. “We can’t memo our way out of the recession.”
“If you don’t have the money and are not a player we love you, but you’re not a player.”
The diamond market relies too heavily on credit to finance the jewelry sector, and hurts it when stores file for bankruptcy as happens all too frequently in today’s economy.
“Just say no to memo and encourage cash purchases”. The jewelry industry must avoid those who are not financially capable of buying stones and paying their debts.
“You don’t have money, go screw yourself. That’s the bottom line,” Rapaport said, a statement that drew a hearty round of applause from the audience.
DCLA would like to help legitimate industry members protect their money and time by limiting bad payments and default debtors. As a central hub in the Australian market, DCLA is happy to verify and give good credit information to industry members.
Diamond dealers and jewellers are also welcome to call and receive information on companies or individuals having defaulted on a payment.
Also, please note that DCLA will be closing all customer credit accounts outstanding for a period greater than 60 days.
The American Gem Society, in partnership with Verichannel, announced today the launch of a specialized search engine for diamonds graded by AGS Lab, available from AGS suppliers.
The online service is integrated into the members only section of the AGS website, and is also accessible to AGS members from the Verichannel platform itself. “AGS Diamond Search” consists of a database of stones uploaded by AGS suppliers, and also stones uploaded directly from the AGS Lab, immediately after being graded, based on permissions set by the supplier. They are searchable using standard criteria of color, clarity, shape, etc. AGS retailers contact suppliers directly to initiate a purchase.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has identified and seized a bogus diamond grading report appearing recently in Hong Kong.
In a news release issued on Wednesday, GIA revealed that although the number of the diamond grading report was in existence in their database, it corresponded to a higher-quality diamond with different measurements, colour, and clarity. According to GIA, a lower quality diamond was cut to match the specifications of the diamond that went with the original report. Furthermore, GIA stated that upon closer scrutiny of the false diamond grading certificate, it was discovered that there were several characteristics inconsistent with those found on an authentic GIA diamond grading report, including differences in font, colour, and background.
In the same release, GIA revealed that their investigation had tracked the counterfeit diamond certificate back to Antwerp, Belgium, a major diamond trading center. Information on the perpetrators is now being sought by the GIA, who is working law enforcement authorities around the world to help detect and prosecute such criminal activities. GIA asks that any individuals with information about either this particular bogus certificate or any other fraudulent activity bring it to their attention.
To help both the industry and public, all major laboratories provide an online database service that allows individuals to check the authenticity of a diamond certificate online by entering the diamond report number and the carat weight of the diamond, which then pulls up all available information about the diamond.
However, this online verification service only serves to determine if the certificate number exists, not if the diamond that accompanies it matches the certificate. GIA offers a verification service to confirm the authenticity of a diamond grading report whereby clients must submit both the diamond and certificate to the GIA laboratory.
In Australia, DCLA performs this verification service and individuals may bring their diamond and accompanying diamond certificate to the DCLA for verification; please contact the laboratory for more information.
Diamond buying made easy…register now for the next 2-3 hour hands-on workshop covering diamond quality and diamond buying taught by the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia.
DCLA diamond experts will walk participants through How to Buy a Diamond during a 2-3 hour in-house workshop located at the actual DCLA Laboratory.
Diamond Buying workshop topics include:
•Detailed explanation and hands-on evaluation of the 4C’s of diamond grading. Participants will take part in the grading process to learn how the quality and value of a diamond are established. This includes how the diamond shape, cut quality, colour, clarity, carat weight, fluorescence, and transparency affect the price of a diamond.
•Choosing the diamond shape, size, and quality right for you
•How to shop for a diamond and questions to ask jewellers
•How to read, understand, and compare Diamond Grading Certificates when shopping
•Explanation and identification of diamond treatments, and how they affect value
•Explanation and identification of synthetic diamonds, and how they affect value
Participants will have ample opportunity to ask questions throughout the workshop.
Spacing is limited, contact DCLA on 1300 66 3252(DCLA) to register and reserve your place.
DCLA teaches about diamond grading and diamond buying at a hands-on Diamond Workshop; register now for a 2-3 hour course before buying your diamond.
DCLA diamond experts will walk participants through the steps of grading a diamond for quality, and how to buy a diamond, during a 2-3 hour in-house workshop located at the actual DCLA Laboratory.
Call DCLA on 1300 66 3252(DCLA) to reserve your place. Spacing is very limited.
Diamond Buying workshop topics include:
•Detailed explanation and hands-on evaluation of the 4C’s of diamond grading. Participants will take part in the grading process to learn how the quality and value of a diamond are established.
•Choosing the diamond shape, size, and quality right for you
•How to shop for a diamond and questions to ask jewellers
•How to read, understand, and compare Diamond Grading Certificates when shopping
•Explanation and identification of diamond treatments, and how they affect value
•Explanation and identification of synthetic diamonds, and how they affect value
Participants will have ample opportunity to ask questions throughout the workshop.
Again, contact DCLA on 1300 66 3252(DCLA) to register and reserve your place.
After seven years at the helm, the outgoing directors are handing over control of the DCLA. The appointment of Ms Anna Wojcieszek as the new Laboratory Director marks the next phase in the laboratory’s growth.
Ms Wojcieszek has extensive diamond grading experience and spent several years in Gemmology and Client Development through the E.G.L USA Group in Canada. Holding a degree from the University of British Columbia, and studies at the Canadian Institute of Gemmology within the International Accredited Gemmologist (CIG) Diploma program which earned her the designated title of Diamond Expert (CIG), Ms Wojcieszek assumes responsibility for the DCLA.
The DCLA looks forward to continuing to provide unparalleled service as Australia’s foremost diamond grading laboratory.