BDB opens boundaries for LGDs: Update 2
BDB Members Give In-principle Approval for LGD Trading!
Diamond Industry India
Ensures long-term sustainability!
Update 2: The Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) members during the Annual General Meeting held on December 28, have in principle approved the trading of lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) within the BDB. However, members cannot start trading in LGDs just yet.
The BDB Managing Committee will now draw up a set of guidelines to be followed by members who wish to trade in LGDs.
Mehul Shah, Vice President, BDB, says, “The BDB members will have to adhere to a set of guidelines formed by the bourse’s management before they are allowed to trade in synthetic diamonds. The intention is to keep the two pipelines in order, 1: natural diamond and 2: LGD category quite in a separate manner! The managing committee of BDB will now frame rules and guidelines on the same and decide the date from when members can start to deal in synthetics.”
Some of the norms which may be enforced are, 1: A separate application/registration will have to be made by members desirous of trading in synthetics.
2: Companies dealing in both products shall ensure that the two separate entities are formed, 3: Identify and demarcate an office premises that they shall utilise solely for the purpose of trade in synthetic / LGDs.
4:
Ensure that there is a clear, distinct and robust segregation process and
technique implemented in their office premises & 5: Implementation of a
separate and distinct stock/inventory management system.
Colin Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, comments, “The decision to allow LGD trading within BDB will ensure the long-term sustainability of the Indian diamond manufacturing industry. The industry has always believed in being inclusive and there is a place for every product to exist as long as the disclosures are made. I see no reason why natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds cannot co-exist as both products are important for keeping the home fires burning.”
Vipul Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, notes, “As GJEPC, we were always supportive of the lab-grown business as long as the disclosures and ethics were maintained. When we started five years back, the lab-grown segment was less than 1% compared to our total production in terms of value and currently, it is almost 5%, registering a sharp growth. It has been accepted by US retailers as such and it is finding its own niche and market as long as it is sold as LGD in an ethical way.”
“During the pandemic, LGD cutting and polishing has been a blessing in disguise as well; LGDs were a substitute for natural diamonds, especially when the industry had voluntarily banned rough imports of natural diamonds. This segment really helped to maintain the livelihood of the workforce.
Even the mining companies have accepted LGDs - De Beers has its Lightbox brand. Manufacturers are bound to switch to a product like LGDs as they can earn a profit, especially when they don’t see the bottom line in natural diamonds. Overall, LGDs and natural diamonds are complementing each other,” adds Vipul Shah.
Sanjay
Shah, Convener, Diamond Panel, GJEPC, states, “Through the combined efforts of
all the major bodies in India and across the globe, we are currently in a
scenario where there is more awareness, and acceptability of LGDs as an
alternative product. There is easy access to detection technology and at
affordable rates. There are standardised certification services being offered
by major laboratories globally. LGDs are now coming into its’ own and have
established a clearly segregated pipeline in the diamond industry.”
Also
read Update1: BDB widens Diamond definition at AGM,
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