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

Botswana At 60: Diamond Leadership Takes Its Place On The World Stage

Diamond Embedded World Athletics Relays Medals Connect Botswana’s Natural Diamond Provenance, Local Enterprise, Creative Industry and Sport Diplomacy.

Published

10 hours ago

April 23, 2026

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The Government of Botswana, in collaboration with the Diamond Sector, today launched the 60 Years of Diamond Leadership Initiative and unveiled the diamond-embedded medals for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 at the Botswana National Museum.

This moment marks a defining shift in Botswana’s diamond journey: from resource extraction to global reputation; from mineral value to public value; and from provenance to purposeful international engagement through sport, culture, tourism, and local enterprise.

The initiative brings together key players across the diamond value chain, including Okavango Diamond Company, De Beers Group, Debswana Diamond Company, Diamond Trading Company Botswana, Lucara Botswana, and KGK Diamonds, working through the House of Botswana. Within this collective effort, ODC’s partnership with Ankit Gems and SRK, who covered the cost of polishing the Botswana natural diamonds, alongside Nungu Diamonds, demonstrates how collaborative investment can connect diamond polishing, jewellery-making capability, creative industry development, and sport-for-development impact.

“Today, Botswana stands as a benchmark for ethical luxury, where diamonds are valued for their integrity, their traceability, and their contribution to national development.” — Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, said:

Botswana’s next chapter is anchored on advancing provenance, deepening socio-economic impact, expanding citizen participation across the value chain, and accelerating downstream development.

In remarks delivered at the event, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, reflected on the broader national significance of diamonds, noting their contribution to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and Botswana’s global standing. The President positioned the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 as a platform of resilience, growth, and excellence, and as a moment through which Botswana can host the world with confidence.

The unveiling of medals featuring Botswana’s natural diamonds, sponsored and produced through ODC, provides a powerful symbol of this ambition. The medals connect the excellence of athletes with the discipline, resilience, and value of natural diamonds, allowing Botswana’s story to travel globally through sport. The sponsorship reinforces ODC’s commitment to ensuring that diamonds do more than shine: they must create visibility, build enterprise, support national development, and open new pathways for economic impact.

The launch also foregrounded Botswana’s creative economy. The Main Gallery featured artworks by local artists, giving the event a distinctly Botswana visual language and affirming that diamond leadership must also create space for culture, creativity, and local talent to be seen on national and international platforms.

One of the initiative’s enterprise-development highlights is the Tokafala-supported Leteise Tote Bag project. Through the programme, Debswana has supported the training of 34 textile operators across Botswana, the majority of whom are women, including participants from mining communities such as Boteti. Curated by AfroFusion, the tote bags will represent Botswana’s heritage at international trade fairs and global engagement platforms.

Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Hon. Jacob Kelebeng, Minister of Sport and Arts, acknowledged the collective effort behind the moment and the significance of bringing the world to Botswana. He thanked Batswana, the diamond sector, sponsors, organisers, and partners whose support continues to strengthen sport as a platform for national pride, unity, and international visibility.

The diamond sector’s contribution to the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 reinforces a broader national principle: mineral value, when managed with intention, can be transformed into public value, supporting sport development, local enterprise, tourism linkages, creative industry growth, and Botswana’s global positioning.

As Botswana marks 60 years of independence and diamond leadership, this initiative signals a more confident and coordinated approach to telling the country’s story: one that links origin to impact, natural wealth to shared progress, and Botswana’s diamonds to the world’s imagination.