Imagem to open diamond grading centre in Surat

Imagem Technologies Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of the US-based Imagem Inc, is set to open Asia's first automated diamond grading centre in Surat on June 15. The centre would be located at Varachha road.

"The grading centre will utilise Imagem's patented diamond grading technology to measure a diamond's light behaviour performance (brilliance, intensity and sparkle), 4 Cs (cut, clarity, carat & colour), and offer grading reports for the same. It will be the first facility of its kind in Surat. It will allow Imagem to support manufacturers by identifying and grading diamonds immediately after cutting and polishing processes," said Shashi Jain, operations manager, Imagem Technologies to Business Standard.

"In addition to measuring 4 Cs, Imagem's technology quantifies a diamond's optical performance, directly measuring brilliance, intensity and sparkle, and offers full grading reports with light behaviour measures. Compared with the manual grading system, followed by Indian Diamond Institute and other agencies, the Imagem system has a very high repeatability on all measures, including colour, clarity and light behaviour, which would enable us develop better trust with customers," he said.

"Our grading services are designed specifically to fill the need for a fast, accurate and repeatable diamond grading for high-volume buyers and sellers," Jain added.

The centre would integrate the entire grading process by Verigem device, GL 3100 grading instrument and GL 5000 clarity instrument. The centre will be staffed by trained gemologists, who will review and approve the information for each diamond before issuing the grading report.

The technology would benefit diamond manufacturers because Imagem assures reliable measurements, faster turnaround and would facilitate communication between site-holders, wholesalers and retailers. The gem identification capabilities allow users to track inventory internally and around the world, without the need for inscription.

"Imagem will use its patented technology to improve the accuracy and reliability of information available to the diamond grading industry. The grading centre in Surat will make Imagem's technology accessible to customers in Asia and the Middle East," Lalit Aggarwal, founder and chairman, Imagem Inc, said.

Imagem Inc, incorporated in 1998, is a gem information company that specialises in gem data collection and analysis. The company's grading parameters are so precise and repeatable that an individual diamond can be uniquely identified through its physical characteristics alone. The company has one granted and two issued patents in the US.