The International Gemological Institute, New York has opened its laboratory in Toronto to certify diamonds for the Canadian marketplace.

Jerry Ehrenwald, IGI president, has named John Palladino as managing director of IGI Toronto. Palladino, a graduate gemologist, who has been with IGI for 18 years, will oversee day-to-day operations along with a staff that includes seven Canadians and three other IGI veterans. The Institute expects to employ as many as 50 Canadians within 12 months, the organization said in a press release.

The 1,400 square-foot laboratory, located at 27 Queen Street East in Toronto, is a full-service facility, offering diamond and gemstone appraisal, certification and testing for jewelers and consumers alike, the organization said. The state of the art gem lab combined with IGI’s cutting edge technology allows for instantaneous communication and the sharing of information between IGI’s offices worldwide.

IGI has a long-standing presence in Canada. In 1997, the Institute became the first organization to teach rough diamond classes in Yellowknife, the city officially registered as the “Diamond Capital of North America.” To-date more than 150 Canadians, including members of the Department of Mineral Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, have been educated through IGI’s Canadian rough diamond program.

JCK