Technological advances have helped many, especially business owners. Over the years, most businesses have become reliant on technology so much that businesses would become redundant without the advent of technology, machinery and machine tools. Regardless the types of industry, almost all of the businesses use technology in their day to day business life and have become depended on the same.

Additionally, technology has encouraged the existence and growth of trade and commerce in all countries. Businesses are now reliant on technology in different areas of business operations, primarily on research and development. It is also beneficial in the production and delivery of goods and services worldwide.

Businesses need technology for the development of the different business tools such as information management system, Point of Sales system, production automation, marketing and communications. A company would need information management system to help them manage employee and clients’ profiles, keeping accounting data and tracking the overall performance of the business. Also, these businesses employ the use of technology in order for them to deliver goods and services in a time-efficient, costeffective and safe manner.

Globalization is the result of technology and today growth, expansion, reach etc are directly related to implementation of technology. Corporate houses now have the opportunity to build and improve their presence in different parts of the world and not restrict growth to a small community or region. Without technology, it would be impossible for anyone to establish his business since every aspect of business operations is influenced by it.

Technology has helped businesses growth 10 fold and large corporate houses are reaching millions of dollars in turn over only because they have embarrassed technology which in turn has worked towards their benefit.

Gem and Jewellery industry, over time has witnessed exponential growth due to the influence of technology, Machinery and Machine tools. Implementation of latest in technology and machinery has given many a company in the Gems and Jewellery trade an opportunity to rise above competition. In the last over 2 decades advent of technology and machinery has given a cutting edge to the industry and the world has become a single market place. Machine cut products come with such finesse and finish that it becomes easier for jewelley companies to sell their products in the International markets. Today a fine machine made jewellery piece is finding its way into the Indian or Chinese markets and vice versa. Sophisticated machinery and machine tools made in Germany, China, Israel, Japan etc are making inroads in jewellery pockets. Jewellery companies are using this available technology to come out with products that are truly aesthetic and excellent in quality which ultimately derives premium value for money.

‘Certification and grading’ is an important activity in the diamond industry as ‘essaying’ in Gold. Thanks to the technological advances the trade is able to differentiate between products and fix appropriate pricing.

Science of gemstones in India was known even in the Vedic period. Ratnashastra as it was known has a detailed account of gems. In fact our ancestors knew how to recognize diamonds from their crystal structure; they could do Ratna pariksha i.e. they could judge the quality aspects and could assess the value of diamonds and that is exactly what a gemmologist would do today! This was thousands of years ago.

Systematic study of Gemmological science, as we understand it today, started in the early 20th century in Europe. At that time the problems faced by the gemstone industry were very minimal. It was never imagined that the magnitude and gravity of gemmology will be so wide spread and intense that it will become an inseparable part of the Gem & Jewellery industry.

First - Gemmologist in India

In 1964, Mr. B.S. Mahajan of Bala Appaji and Sons, very famous jewellers of Mumbai studied gemmology at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and returned back to India. He was the first FGA (Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain). In those days there was no Institute in India to teach the science of gems. The word “Gemmology” was unheard of.

Later jewellers of Mumbai formed an organization Precious Stone Exporters’ Association had their office in the Mumbadevi area of Mumbai. Later they changed the name to Gem & Jewellery Exporters’ Association. A need was felt for having a gem testing laboratory this required qualified gemmologists. So the same Gemmological Association of Great Britain was approached and with their help in the year 1971 the Gemmological Institute of India was established. A small laboratory was set up to do basic gem testing and courses were conducted to train students in the science of the gemstones. This was the turning point in the history of the gemmological studies in India and ever since, gemmology in India has been spread to all the parts of the country. Today, there are more than 10,000 qualified gemologists available in India and over a dozen institutes in the country which are engaged in teaching gemmology.

Changes in Diamond Manufacturing

The Indian Diamond Industry has achieved a distinction in the world market for its outstanding growth and contribution to the diamond world diamond trade. It is astonishing that 9 out of every 10 diamonds sold in the world markets are cut and polished in India. Over 100 million carats of diamond worth billions of dollars have been pumped in to the world markets every year. Earlier the diamonds were cut and manufactured in small cottage industries where all the family members sat together around a “ghanti” and faceted diamonds. During the last four decades, the diamond industry has evolved from family business to small scale industry and today to a corporate type large scale indus t ry. Today the r e i s some much computerization and technological development in the process of diamond cutting that diamond manufacturers can accurately map all inclusions, within almost any rough diamond, within a time span of minutes. The new service offered by a company called Sarin has the benefit of reduced time, and is named as Galaxy™ 1000 scanner. This scanner achieves results with no preprocessing (known in the diamond industry as "opening windows") of the rough stone required, and within minutes. The scanner can accurately detect and map all inclusions regardless of their type, size, and location within the rough diamond, using a unique technology. Actually one has to put on 3D spectacles like one puts for 3D movies and observe the inclusions on the screen. Cutters who have become proficient in this can actually guarantee a perfect triple AAA cut. Today students learning gemmology and diamond grading at the SeamEdu’s Institute of Gem Jewellery have actually seen how these modern machines like Galaxy1000 work. This is evolution in gemmological education!

Another evolution is the fact that the diamond business houses are also listed on the stock market. Some of these business houses have started in house diamond studded jewellery. All this growth has perpetuated into large scale work for gemmologists as they are required to make diamond grading certificates and jewellery identification reports.