There is no truth to recent talk out of India that undisclosed lab-grown diamonds have again appeared in the natural pipeline, a local industry official tells JCK.
“It is all just rumors,” says Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council chairman Vipul Shah. “We have not received any official complaint.”
Last week, The Times of India reported that local social media is buzzing “about the involvement of few leading diamond companies, including [De Beers] sightholders, in the illegal practice of mixing synthetics with natural diamond parcels from the past two weeks.”
But Shah says that he has not seen any evidence this is occurring, despite repeatedly asking for it.
“I have said, if there is proof, bring it to me, we will take action,” he says. “Anyone who is caught will face severe action.”
De Beers CEO Philippe Mellier has told JCK that his company takes not disclosing synthetics “very seriously” and would take away client privileges for any sightholder caught doing so.
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