Surat got a chance amid the shortage of diamonds: The country’s lab grown diamond industry will double in three years due to the increase in global demand

Surat, which does cutting-polishing of more than 90% of the world’s diamonds, has been facing a shortage of natural rough diamonds for a few months now. The city’s diamond industry has ramped up production of Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD) to tackle this problem arising out of the Russo-Ukraine War. Due to this, its business is expected to double to more than Rs 31 thousand crore in the next three years.

Surat has more than 500 Lab Grown Diamond Manufacturing Units and their number is continuously increasing. As a result, about 15% of the world’s lab grown diamonds have been made in India. Though China produces 56% of LGD, India’s pace is fast. Ghanshyam Bhanderi, chairman of Bhanderi Lab Grown Diamonds, said that within two-three years, LGD production in India has increased from a few thousand carats to 30 lakh carats or about Rs 15,500 crore. In the last financial year, the export of polished LGD from India increased by 106% to 10 thousand crores.

Increase in demand among youth due to reduction in price by up to 75%

Lab grown diamonds are about 75% cheaper than natural diamonds.

2.15 carat lab grown diamond can be bought for 1 carat natural diamond price.

Due to being cheap, the demand for such diamonds is increasing rapidly among people in the age group of 21-40.

Lab grown diamonds have been made around the world since the 1950s.

The production of artificial diamonds started in India from 2004, which is now increasing rapidly.

Its business in India is expected to reach 31 thousand crores by 2025.

also used in semiconductor

Apart from the gems and jewelery industry, lab grown diamonds are also used in technologies such as semiconductors, satellites and 5G networks. They can work at higher speeds with less power than silicon chips.

Colin Shah, President of Gems and Jewelery Export Promotion Council, says that there has been talk with the government to include Lab Grown Diamond Industry in the PLI Scheme. The industry has the potential to generate 10 lakh jobs and an export turnover of over Rs 40,000 crore.

What are Lab Grown Diamonds?

Natural diamonds are formed under the ground over millions of years, which are mined, while LGD is made in the laboratory. They are ready in just one to four weeks. The texture, luster, hardness, chemical composition of such diamonds are also similar to natural diamonds.