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GIA to Close Lab in Ramat Gan, Israel
The location will close by the end of the year due to it being financially unsustainable, GIA said.
The Gemological Institute of America announced Monday that it plans to close its laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, by the end of the year.
Carlsbad, Calif.—The Gemological Institute of America will close its lab in Ramat Gan, Israel, by the end of the year, the company announced Monday.
GIA cited “changes in the global diamond industry that resulted in significant declines in submissions from local clients over the last several years” as the reason.
Though the company had cut operating costs and reduced staff by attrition at the lab, it said in the end, the Ramat Gan location was not financially sustainable.
“Israel continues to be an important center for specialized diamond cutting and polishing,” GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques said.
“We will provide services for our clients through other GIA locations.”
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GIA cited “changes in the global diamond industry that resulted in significant declines in submissions from local clients over the last several years” as the reason.
Though the company had cut operating costs and reduced staff by attrition at the lab, it said in the end, the Ramat Gan location was not financially sustainable.
“Israel continues to be an important center for specialized diamond cutting and polishing,” GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques said.
“We will provide services for our clients through other GIA locations.”
All diamonds currently at the lab will be returned to clients with the requested GIA reports.
Starting Nov. 17, the Ramat Gan lab will be accepting submissions for service at other GIA locations.
Diamonds that would have been serviced at the Ramat Gan lab will be sent to other locations and returned to clients at no additional costs, said GIA.
Regular shipping costs will still apply to diamonds submitted to GIA Ramat Gan that would not have been serviced locally.
GIA said it is working to set up a third-party process to accept submissions from walk-in clients at Ramat Gan that will be processed elsewhere.
That third party would accept items for shipments to other GIA facilities and return them to clients.
More details will be announced soon, said GIA.
Those with questions or concerns can contact the lab or send an email to ramatganlab@gia.edu.
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