ICA-GemLab will establish India’s first specialized gemological testing laboratory in Surat, Gujarat, with an opening scheduled for October 2026. The center will deliver testing and reporting services for diamonds, colored gemstones, and finished jewelry before items reach consumers, filling a critical void in the supply chain.
This marks the first ICA-GemLab operation on the Indian subcontinent. Surat was selected because of its status as one of the world’s major centers for diamond and jewelry manufacturing and trade. The facility will maintain the same technical standards as ICA-GemLab’s existing labs in Bangkok, Dubai, and Hong Kong, ensuring alignment with its worldwide network.
Kalpesh Desai, Director of ICA-GemLab India, highlighted how the lab will supply verified data to support trade decisions. “India has a significant share of the world’s diamond processing, with Surat being one of its key centres,” he said. The lab will issue three report types: Diamond Reports, Colored Gemstone Reports, and Jewellery Reports, serving manufacturers, traders, retailers, and individual buyers.
Testing services will cover every phase of production, from raw materials to finished goods. This approach reflects ICA-GemLab’s broader initiative to provide direct access to its analytical capabilities in key sourcing and trading markets. The Surat location will also integrate with the organization’s Bangkok headquarters and its Dubai and Hong Kong offices.
The new facility builds on ICA-GemLab’s existing collaboration with Sri Lanka’s National Gem & Jewellery Authority, which already provides testing services there. However, the Surat lab represents a deeper investment in the Indian market, responding to rising industry demands for independent verification in a sector where trust and transparency are essential.
Amira Hatta, Managing Director of ICA-GemLab Global, explained that India’s central role in the global gems and jewelry trade makes the Surat location a strategic move. “Opening a laboratory in Surat will bring our analytical capabilities directly to this market, so that customers will have access to our services closer to where they operate,” she said. The lab’s protocols will follow the standards of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), strengthening its reputation.
The Surat facility will operate under the same professional guidelines as the rest of the ICA-GemLab group, guaranteeing consistent reporting. Desai noted that the lab’s long-term objective is to provide reliable gemological information, documented methodologies, and analysis that can help traders and consumers make decisions based on appropriate information.
