The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) is throwing its weight behind the International Diamond Monitoring Committee initiatives in India.

The WFDB will be supporting of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and the Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB).

WFDB president, Ernie Blom, who took part in the meeting of international representatives which formulated the idea during India’s International Jewellery Show in Mumbai, said he was fully supportive of the initiative.

Following the meeting of industry bodies, GJEPC chairman Praveenshankar Pandya announced the establishment of the International Diamond Monitoring Committee which aims to eliminate undisclosed mixing of lab-grown diamonds in packages of natural diamonds as well as other objectives.

“All the major diamond industry bodies, including the WFDB and the Diamond Producers Association, took part in exhaustive discussions on the subject,” explains Blom.

“I am delighted that we reached a number of decisions regarding the new panel’s aims. It will have comprehensive objectives, including the monitoring of trends and instances of non-disclosure of synthetics, threats to the polished diamond sector, and agreeing on the most effective detection devices for trade members.

“We stress that we do not have any objection to trading in synthetic stones, only that they are fully disclosed so that consumer confidence in our product is not damaged in any way,” says Blom.

“I am very pleased to support this initiative proposed by the GJEPC, which is a WFDB member, together with the BDB. These are the kind of steps that will enable consumers to have full confidence in diamond jewellery,” he adds.

The International Diamond Monitoring Committee members will hold their next meeting at the September edition of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair.