Top management representatives of the De Beers Group of Companies including Phillipe Mellier, Stephen Lussier and Jonathan Kendall yesterday inaugurated the International Institute of Diamond Grading and Inscription facility in Surat. A sum of $10 million has been invested in the project by De Beers.

The institute has been equipped with leading proprietary diamond technology, and a statement from Forevermark describes it as “the newest and most technologically advanced Forevermark diamond inscription and grading operation in the world”.

The primary purpose of the facility will be to select and inscribe Forevermark diamonds with a unique serial number; and to deliver an accurate and reliable grading service for Forevermark diamonds.

The institute will have about 100 employees and at full capacity it will be able to process $500 million of diamonds annually.

Philippe Mellier, Chief Executive, De Beers Group described the institute as “an important investment by De Beers in world-leading technology”. He said that it will initially focus on Forevermark grading, and added, “We will also look into the potential to widen the service in the future as another way of supporting the surrounding diamond community.”

Stephen Lussier, CEO, Forevermark said: “This facility will offer an improved service for Indian diamantaires and for Forevermark retailers here in India and abroad. We can now envisage a future where polished diamonds from around the world come to Surat to benefit from this world-leading facility. ”