DiamondBuzz

Augmont expands SPOT Gold Trading platform with lab grown diamond integration for global markets

Augmont, India’s largest gold trading platform announced that it has added Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD) to its existing online SPOT trading platform for precious metals catering to more than 5,000 jewellers across the country.

Published

1 year ago

January 29, 2025

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The enhanced SPOT 2.0 platform brings Augmont’s 17 years of precious metals trading expertise to the growing LGD sector. This addition represents an evolution of diamond trading infrastructure, particularly as India maintains its position as the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing destination.

The platform enhancement introduces transparent pricing mechanisms and streamlined procurement processes for the LGD market inspiring confidence among key stakeholders. This strategic move is set to streamline the procurement for jewellers while establishing a transparent and efficient pricing mechanism for the rapidly growing LGD market in India.

Ketan Kothari, Director of Augmont Group, said, “Augmont has firmly established itself as India’s go-to destination for buying and selling gold. Building on this strong foundation, we are proud to have our own lab-grown diamond (LGD) platform on Augmont SPOT, addressing the surging demand in this rapidly growing industry. The platform will enable market pricing and delivery of these diamonds globally including USA, Europe, Gulf and East Asia’’

Aarav Bafna, Product Head (LGD), Augmont, said, “With the extended version of SPOT, we plan to set a benchmark for LGD pricing. The current LGD pricing model, based solely on discounts relative to mined diamonds, is fundamentally flawed and irrational. Augmont is here to transform that narrative. Just as we revolutionized gold trading and price discovery in India, we are now ready to redefine and reimagine the LGD market.”

SPOT offers a comprehensive and unified trading experience, enabling jewellers to source all their manufacturing requirements—including gold, silver, platinum, lab-grown diamonds, precious metal alloys, precious stones, and other essential materials—through a single integrated online platform. It also features real-time price discovery powered by advanced algorithms and market mechanisms, ensuring transparent and fair pricing. Quality assurance is a priority, with certification and verification processes for all listed diamonds. Built upon Augmont’s proven 17-year-old trading infrastructure, SPOT ensures seamless integration for a reliable and efficient trading experience.

The platform addresses the growing demand for lab-grown diamonds, which have gained significant market share due to their sustainable nature and competitive pricing. SPOT is expected to handle substantial trading volumes, reflecting India’s dominant position in the global LGD polishing industry.

As per the Commerce Ministry’s data, India polishes almost 98% of all lab-grown diamonds in the world in 2022.

As per the EY report, the demand for Lab-Grown Diamonds is rising across the world, and its global market size is growing at 8.64% CAGR to touch $39.3 billion by 2028. And the Indian lab-grown diamond jewellery market, which was valued at around $300 million in 2023, is set to increase to $1.2 billion by 2033.

DiamondBuzz

Rio Tinto shuts Diavik mine operations after 23 years

Diavik has been an inspired collaboration between a mining company and Indigenous partners

Published

15 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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After 23 years of operations and more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds produced before exhausting its economic reserves, Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada has celebrated its final day of production.

Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium and Diamonds MD Sophie Bergeron said: “Forty years ago there were very few people who believed there were diamonds in Canada – even fewer could have foreseen how the Diavik story would unfold. To arrive at this milestone has required vision, courage and determination to overcome significant challenges to mine diamonds beneath a frozen lake in one of the world’s most remote and pristine ecosystems.”

“Today, Diavik’s influence stretches into many spheres and over many continents and I am very proud to acknowledge all those people who have contributed to the discovery and development of the mine and the production and marketing of some of the finest diamonds the world has ever seen.”

Diavik mine, comprising four pipes, was discovered in 1991, beneath Lac de Gras, 220 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. Mining began in 2003 and utilising both open pit and underground mining methods, has produced predominantly white gem quality diamonds and a small proportion of rare yellow diamonds.

Indigenous Government Organisations, government representatives and other stakeholders attended a celebration at the mine, signalling the formal completion of production at Diavik.

Diavik has been an inspired collaboration between a modern mining company and Indigenous partners with an enduring legacy of socioeconomic benefits for the North. RT looks forward to continuing to respectfully reclaim the land in line with our commitments to, and in partnership with, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Indigenous partners.

Planning for Diavik’s closure has been ongoing, commencing before the mine even began production, with closure goals covering safety, land use, landforms, water, biodiversity, community capacity and resource development. Closure activities will extend to 2029, followed by a period of post-closure monitoring.

The final production of Diavik rough diamonds will be polished and sold through 2026 and beyond by Rio Tinto’s international network of customers, including its long-standing Select Diamantaires^.