- International Gemological Institute
Infobox Company
name = International Gemological Institute
type = Gemological Institute (Laboratory)
genre =
foundation = 1975
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location_city = Antwerp
location_country = Belgium
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locations =New York City ,Hong Kong ,Mumbai ,Bangkok ,Tokyo ,Dubai ,Toronto ,Los Angeles ,Tel Aviv andCavalese
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intl =International Gemological Institute is a
diamond , colored stone andjewelry certification organization. IGI is headquartered inAntwerp and has offices inNew York City ,Hong Kong ,Mumbai ,Bangkok ,Tokyo ,Dubai ,Toronto ,Los Angeles ,Tel Aviv . Established in 1975, IGI is the largest independent gemological laboratory worldwide. [cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Roe
authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Spotlight on International Gemological Institute
url= |work= |publisher=Jewelers Inc. |date=December 2007 |accessdate=2008-06-26 ] It also runs Schools of Gemology in several locations around the globe.About The International Gemological Institute
Significance
IGI is the largest laboratory for certification of diamonds and fine jewelry. [*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= About IGI: JCK Online |url=http://jck.firstlightera.com/EN/Microsites/1/International+Gemological+Institute/ec89e412-a92c-44aa-be25-43baa2b63d58 |work=JCK Online |publisher= |date= 11:45 AM |accessdate=2008-06-27] It is also one of the leading gemological institutes worldwide next to
GIA and a few other notable institutions in this field. However, the IGI has the only international certification lab controlled by one central governing body that adheres to one internationally accepted system for diamond grading and it is the only international gemological lab to becomeInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001: 2000 certified in four countries:United States ,Canada ,India andUnited Arab Emirate . Recently, IGI became the first gem lab to collaborate with the Tanzanite Foundation to help distribute jewelry certificates using the Tanzanite Quality Scale, developed by the Tanzanite Foundation in collaboration with IGI.What Does IGI Do?
International Gemological Institute provides services to the public through diamond dealers. IGI provides independent grading reports, colored stone reports, identification and appraisal reports, diamond authentication and attestations of origin, laser inscription services and diamond and colored stone courses offered through IGI's Schools of Gemology. The IGI school was the first to offer the practical Rough Diamond course. Graduates from the IGI school of Gemology are awarded an IGI Diploma.
Facts and Statistics
An estimated 11 percent of all diamonds purchased by India's consumers come from IGI vendors in
Kolkata . (Refer to expansions for laboratory opening in Kalkata). [Rapaport Diamond Report: October 7, 2007]IGI has an expert staff of over 650 gemologists, appraisers and professional office personnel. [cite news |first= |last=
authorlink= |coauthors= |title=IGI's Online Services Provide a Consumer-Friendly Approach to Diamond and Gemstone Education and Protection |url= |work=Mid-America Jewelry News |publisher= |date=October 2007 4:10 PM |accessdate=2008-06-26]The International Gemological Institute "has been at the forefront of
technology since its commencement in 1975." This characteristic can be seen in the actions that the IGI has taken recently towards creating an Online Data Retrieval program and its Registration and Recovery Service. [cite news |first= |last=
authorlink= |coauthors= |title=IGI's Online Services Provide a Consumer-Friendly Approach to Diamond and Gemstone Education and Protection |url= |work=Southern Jewelry News |publisher= |date=October 2007 4:10 PM |accessdate=2008-06-26]Expansions
In November 2007, the International Gemological Institute opened its first diamond gemstone and jewelry certification laboratory in
Kolkata , its third laboratory inIndia . [Modern Jeweler]In February 2008, the International Gemological Institute opened its diamond gemstone and jewelry certification laboratory in
New Delhi , its Fourth laboratory inIndia . [Modern Jeweler]In March 2007, IGI collaborated with the Tanzanite Foundation to produce a globally acceptable grading scale, called the Tanzanite Quality Scale™ (TQS), for the popular gem called
Tanzanite , which was discovered inTanzania in the 1960s and has moved on the fast lane to becoming a globally recognized gem. [cite news |first=Diana |last=Jarrett |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Tanzanite Makes the Grade
url= |work=Rapaport Diamond Report
publisher= |date=November 2, 2007 11:58 AM |accessdate=2008-06-26]September 2007, IGI Hong Kong in collaborations with the Tanzanite Foundation, made Hong Kong the third IGI location to adopt the Tanzanite Foundation's Tanzanite Quality Scale™. [Mid-America Jewelry News: November 2007]
Affiliations
The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is affiliated with to associations and organizations around the world thanks to its world wide locations. Some of IGI's affiliations are:
# ABEX ( [http://www.abex.be/ Association Belge des Experts] )
# Antwerp Diamond Club
# AGTA ( [http://www.agta.org/ American Gem Trade Association] )
# BBB ( [http://www.bbbonline.org/ Better Business Bureau] )
# Beurs voor Diamanthandel (Antwerp Diamond Bourse)
# BLCC ( [http://www.blcchk.org/index.php Belgium Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong] )
# CIBJO ( [http://www.cibjo.org/ The World Jewellery Confederation] )
# [http://www.nyddc.com/ Diamond Dealers Club of New York]
# DFHK ( [http://www.diamondfederationhk.com/ Diamond Federation of Hong Kong] )
# DMIA (Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America)
# ICA ( [http://www.gemstone.org/ International Colored Gemstone Association] )
# IDCA ( [http://www.idcany.org/pages/home.aspx Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association] )
# ISO ( [http://www.iso.org/iso/home.htm International Organization for Standardization] )
# JA ( [http://www.jewelers.org/ Jewelers of America] )
# JVC ( [http://www.jvclegal.org/ Jewelers Vigilance Committee] )
# MJSA ( [http://www.mjsa.org/ Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America] )
# NCDIA ( [http://www.ncdia.com/ Natural Color Diamond Association] )
# WDC ( [http://www.diamondfacts.org/ World Diamond Council] )References
*cite news |first=C H |last=UNNIKRISHNAN |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= IGI plans second testing laboratory in New Delhi ; International Gemological Institute (IGI) is planning to set up its...
url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=BSTN000020051027e1as0001t |work=Business Standard |publisher= |date=28 October, 2005 |accessdate=2008-06-23*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Four IGI Labs are now ISO certified
url=http://diamondworld.net/contentview.aspx?item=2691 |work=Diamond World News Service |publisher= |date=Jun 7 2008 6:26AM |accessdate=2008-06-23
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=IGI Diamond Certification Lab Certified in Four Countries
url=http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneId=918&objid=3634 |work=The Israeli Diamond Industry |publisher= |date=04.06.08, 10:41 |accessdate=2008-06-23
*cite news |first=Bernard |last=Simon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Adding Brand Names To Nameless Stones
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E7DF153EF934A15755C0A9649C8B63&scp=9&sq=International+Gemological+Institute&st=nyt |work=Diamond New York Times |publisher= |date=Jun 27 2002 1:43 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=International Gemological Institute
url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/general-merchandise-stores/4169008-1.html |work=Europa Star |publisher= |date=April 1 2002 1:46 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Diamonds |url=http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/e3i5d0b266ef36902815f0dd4e41672f62b |work=National Jeweler Network |publisher= |date=June 3, 2008 1:48 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Product Gallery
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3018/is_200211/ai_n7664852 |work=JCK's High-Volume Jeweler
publisher= |date=November 2002 1:51 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Terry Buckham hired to lead education efforts
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3195/is_200501/ai_n13125741 |work=Jewelers Circular Keystone
publisher= |date=January 2005 2:00 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first=Jeff |last=Miller |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Botswana: IGI Launches Polished Course
url=http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=20893 |work=Rapaport News
publisher= |date=March 10, 2008 2:04 PM |accessdate=2008-06-24
*cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Tanzanite Foundation, IGI Team Up on Grading
url=http://www.colored-stone.com/stories/mar07/tanzanite.cfm |work=Colored-stone.com
publisher= |date=March/April 2007 11:03 PM |accessdate=2008-06-26External links
* [http://igionline.com/ IGI Online]
* [http://www.igiworldwide.com IGI Worldwide]
* [http://www.igionline.com IGI USA]
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