GIA India Turnaround Time Increases

RAPAPORT... Fresh Covid-19 measures in India have lengthened the grading turnaround time at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), adding pressure amid a backlog at the organization."The ongoing Covid-19 crisis has impacted our laboratory operations in Mumbai and Surat," the GIA said Saturday in a note to clients, seen by Rapaport News.Stones customers send to the Mumbai laboratory on April 20 will return on May 20, a service time of around 23 weekdays, according to estimates on the GIA's website. That compares with approximately 20 days for submissions on March 20. For the Surat lab, goods submitted on April 20 won't be returned until May 26."So that we can continue operating under government safety protocols, we are working seven days a week, with multiple shifts and overtime, to help maximize our capacity in all locations," a GIA spokesperson added Monday. The GIA has been dealing with an accumulation of diamond submissions after demand for grading jumped in the past few months amid a sharp rise in rough buying and polished manufacturing. Capacity restrictions at its labs have aggravated the situation.Earlier this month, Maharashtra state, which includes Mumbai, introduced tight measures limiting gatherings due to a surge in coronavirus infections. Diamond manufacturing and associated services are allowed to continue. Gujarat, where the polishing hub of Surat is located, has not yet introduced special restrictions, though cases are rising there, too. Image: GIA-graded diamonds. (Shutterstock)