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Carlsbad, Calif.--The GIA laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, will end operations by the end of 2024 due to changes in the global diamond industry that resulted in significant declines in submissions from local clients over the last several years, GIA said Monday. Despite reductions in operating costs and reduced staffing through attrition, GIA says the laboratory is not financially sustainable.

“Israel continues to be an important center for specialized diamond cutting and polishing,” said GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques. “We will provide services for our clients through other GIA locations.”

All diamonds currently at the Ramat Gan laboratory will be returned to clients with the requested GIA reports. Beginning November 17, GIA said in a statement. Staff at the Ramat Gan laboratory will continue to accept submissions for service at other GIA locations. Diamonds that would have been serviced in the Ramat Gan laboratory will be sent to other GIA laboratory locations and returned to clients at no additional cost. Regular shipping costs will apply to submissions that would not have been serviced locally. 

GIA adds that it is working to establish a third-party process to accept submissions from walk-in clients in Ramat Gan for service in other GIA laboratories. Details of the process will be announced soon. Under that process, a third party will accept items for shipment to other GIA laboratories and return them to clients. 

GIA said clients with questions or concerns should contact the GIA laboratory in Ramat Gan or email ramatganlab@gia.edu.