It is a matter of great pleasure and satisfaction for me to address this elite gathering of gemmologists of India today.

A gathering of gemmologists at the Indian Gemmological Seminar is a platform where we always get an opportunity to renew our bonding and relations with fellow members and also to create new contacts. Our family of gemmologists in India has established a strong bonding through the IGS every year.

The 6th IGS is thus a celebration of our unity, strength and above all our dedication to the subject of gemmology.

Those who have not been attending the seminar do not realize what they are missing in their lives. This is the only seminar in India where a gemmologist can enrich his knowledge and update himself, and the only place and platform exclusively dedicated and set up for the promotion and development of our field. Through these seminars we will be fulfilling our mission of spreading the knowledge of gemstones in India.

This year, many epoch making developments have taken place in the field of gemmology in our country and around the world.

For many years through the IGS, we have been requesting the industry to institute a National Research Center for gemstones and diamonds. Therefore, it is very much gratifying for me, and with great pleasure, I announce here today, that the Gemmological Institute of India has decided to set up a National Research Center in Mumbai. The GII is now supported and sponsored by the apex organization of the industry, The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council and other important organizations like the Bharat Diamond Bourse, Diamond Exporters Association Ltd. and Gem & Jewellery Exporters’ Association. This is one of the historical developments in the field of gemmology in India. A landmark achievement for the GII in its journey during the last 34 years.

With this development, the Institute will emerge as a National Body representing the Indian Trade and Industry. In addition, the Institute will now have all the facilities for advanced research studies in the country. You have my personal assurance that all the gemmologists in the country are welcome to the GII’s research division for any studies related to gemmology. As many Gemmologists present here were my students some time in the not too distant past, they are fully aware of the fact that GII is their home away from home.

The industry had to take this decision mainly because of the problems it started facing during the last decade. One is the Threat and the other is the Challenge to the industry.

The Threat what the industry faces today is on account of the presence of synthetic and HPHT treated diamonds in the market.

The Challenge has two aspects. The first is to identify the synthetic diamonds from their natural counter parts. Synthetic diamonds are made today by the High Pressure High Temperature Method and the CVD. The second is to identify treatments like HPHT on diamonds and Beryllium on corundum. With Beryllium treatments beautiful colours and shades of pink, yellow, red etc. have been induced to corundum. By HPHT treatments, brown coloured diamonds can be changed to the absolute white in the G to D colour range. It is practically impossible for any conventional gem-testing laboratory having only basic instruments, to identify various types of synthetics, and especially the Beryllium treatments on coloured stones and HPHT treatments on diamonds.

The gemstone industry is not at all against the treatments or synthetic gemstones. Treatment is done to improve or enhance the beauty of a gemstone. The question is only regarding DISCLOSURE. As long as you declare and market these products as synthetics or treated gemstones, it will not be a threat to the traders or to the consumer because ultimately, the confidence of the consumer is at stake.

Under these circumstances, it was the need of the hour that the industry equip itself in the interest of the trade as well as that of the ultimate consumer. Keeping this in mind, the industry leaders have lent their whole-hearted support to the GII in its massive expansion program and setting up a National Research Center.

Friends, this amalgamation of the GII with the Indian trade and Industry is a very important event in the annals of the Indian Gem and Jewellery Industry.

India is a country that has shown the beauty and value of diamonds to the world. This is the country where gemstones have had a lot of significance with the culture of the country. This is evident from the mythology as well as the known famous gemstones of Indian origin, such as those in the Smithsonian and the Tower of London. With this background of heritage and culture, the latter part of the 20th century has seen an emergence of a new era in the history of diamonds in the world. Today, in terms of quantity, India is considered to be the largest supplier of cut and polished diamonds to the world markets. Small size diamonds are practically the monopoly of India to date.

Nevertheless, the irony is that we do not have a proper research and development laboratory devoted exclusively to the technical and scientific study of diamonds and gemstones in India. On one hand, our gem and jewellery exports for the year 2003-2004 is to the tune of 11.86 billion US dollars, i.e. over 50 thousand crore rupees. On the other hand, what we spend on research and development by all the institutions in the country roughly put together, I am sure, does not cross even a meager 50 lakh rupees per annum for R & D.

However, our competitors like China, Israel, Antwerp etc., have been spending millions of dollars every year exclusively for research studies. My colleague Dr. Jayshree Panjikar, who had visited Beijing and Shanghai, has reliably learnt that they possess one of the most sophisticated gem testing laboratories in the world today. This calls for us to build a scientific infrastructure on which the industry can grow further.

Gemmologists therefore, have a greater share of the burden on their shoulders. We must work hard to spread our knowledge of gemstones in India. Jewellers should be taught about the synthetics, treatments, other qualitative aspects as well as the management of a jewellery business. I suggest we organize more seminars, workshops and talks related to gemmology. This increased awareness will attract more people to be interested in learning gemmology. Our aim should be that by the year 2010, at least five universities should introduce the subject of gemmology as part of their curriculum in their graduation programs. This would generate more qualified professionals, whose services the industry is in dire need of, as well as opening new avenues on the employment front.

Today at GII, we have a standing offer from the industry for any qualified and competent student in the fields of gemmology, diamond grading, jewellery designing etc. through campus selection. The potential of employment opportunities are tremendous because of the growing domestic market as well as export demands. In fact, it is expected that within a decade, every jeweller would prefer to employ a gemmologist in his or her business, with a view to provide customer service for credibility.

Let us therefore join together in our mission to spread the knowledge of gemmology in every nook and corner of our country.