The International Gemological Institute (IGI) in New York plans to open an identification and grading laboratory in central Hong Kong in November. According to IGI president Jerry Ehrenwald, the Institute is hiring local Hong Kong graduate gemologists and Fellows of the British Gemological Association as diamond graders. The newly hired Hong Kong staff will receive in-house training at IGI Antwerp.

Marc Brauner, IGI’s worldwide chief laboratory officer, will manage IGI Hong Kong and oversee day-to-day operations at the laboratory.

IGI says the Hong Kong lab will be a full-service facility with state-of-the-art equipment for servicing diamond dealers, jewelry manufacturers, jewelers, and consumers. It will offer diamond and gemstone identification, certification, and testing reports on loose stones and finished jewelry.

The International Gemological Institute is located in Antwerp, New York City, Toronto, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Mumbai (Bombay), Tokyo, and Dubai and can be reached at www.igiworldwide.com.