SGL International Opens First US Lab in New York

New York—SGL International, a London-based gemological lab, has opened its first U.S. location in Manhattan’s Diamond District.

Located in the International Gem Tower on 47th Street, the opening marks SGL’s 16th lab worldwide, with others in the United Arab Emirates, India, and Saudi Arabia.

The move to New York will bring the lab closer to major retailers and manufacturers while eliminating the logistical challenges of working with a lab overseas.

Looking to set itself apart from the pack of labs across the Diamond District, SGL launched a mobile lab service.

Retailers can request to have a team of SGL professionals visit their stores to grade and certify finished diamond jewelry on the spot.

The team is also able to screen for lab-grown and natural diamonds using its newly-introduced Dia Screen, a lab-grown diamond screening instrument.

The machine can screen for CVD and HPHT lab-grown diamonds and natural diamonds and can also pick out moissanite and cubic zirconia.

The need to separate HPHT from CVD lab-grown diamonds can’t be underestimated, said co-director Chirag Soni.

“It’s no longer simply lab grown versus natural. The growing price distinction alone will make it critically important for the industry to separate HPHT from CVD lab-grown,” Soni said in a statement.

The machine is available for sale at the New York lab and will be soon be available throughout its network.

SGL will be exhibiting at JCK in Las Vegas at Booth 3094 in the Diamond Pavilion.