International News
US jewellers warn Congress of harm from new sanctions on Russian diamonds
US jewellers have warned Congress of the harm that new sanctions on Russian diamonds will cause for the entire retail sector.
The trade association Jewelers of America (JA) met with a dozen Democratic and Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate to voice concerns over the 1 September restrictions that will require all goods of 0.50-scts and above to enter G7 countries via Antwerp for verification.
JA said it continues to staunchly support efforts that will keep diamonds of Russian origin out of the supply chain, including the more stringent U.S. Customs and Border Patrol requirements that went into effect on 1st March. However, the proposed adoption of an exclusive physical verification and certification system in Belgium for all rough diamonds would cause maximum damage to the global diamond and jewellery supply chain, while having minimal effect on Russia’s diamond revenues.
They say a single import channel will “cause maximum damage to the global diamond and jewelry supply chain, while having minimal effect on Russia’s diamond revenues”.
JA is urging all its members to lobby Congress and explain that the way the restrictions are being implemented will hurt jewellery businesses.
“JA has been working tirelessly behind the scenes and this visit to Washington, D.C. was a critical step to ensure we minimize unnecessary disruptions to the U.S. diamond industry,” said JA president & CEO David J. Bonaparte.
International News
Swiss International Gemlab Launches with Proprietary AI for Precise Colored Gemstone Grading
Swiss International Gemlab promises Faster, More Accurate Certification, Ensures Report Consistency
Three veteran gemologists today announced the opening of Swiss International Gemlab (SIG), a cutting-edge facility leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance grading accuracy and consistency for colored gemstones.
Founded by Willy Bieri, Lawrence Hahn, and Matthias Alessandri—senior experts who have collaborated for over a decade—SIG will operate from state-of-the-art locations in Lucerne, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. The lab promises faster results, unmatched transparency, and scientific rigor, insulated from external influences.
SIG delivers a full spectrum of services, including gemstone identification, origin determination, treatment analysis, and advanced color grading. At its core is SIG-AI Assistance, a proprietary system that cross-references analytical data against structured databases to detect anomalies, ensure report consistency, and slash interpretation time.
With a standard turnaround of five business days—plus expedited options for urgent needs—and real-time status tracking, SIG sets a new benchmark for efficiency and reliability in gem certification. The lab will make its global debut at this year’s GemGenève in May, offering on-site services to industry professionals.
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