Okavango to Implement GIA’s M2M Tracking

RAPAPORT… Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has signed on to use the
Gemological Institute of America (GIA)’s M2M tracking program for some of its
rough stones.



ODC’s July spot auction will be its first to feature
diamonds that have been evaluated by the GIA, the diamond-grading organization
said Friday.



Okavango, a Botswana government-owned rough supplier, is entitled to 15% of production coming from Debswana, a joint venture between the state and De Beers. The remaining output goes to De Beers.



“This is an important step in confirming diamond provenance,
which we anticipate will have benefits for our customers, retailers and
ultimately consumers,” ODC managing director Marcus ter Haar said Friday. “This
pilot will allow those ODC customers who participate the advantage of
confirming that the polished outcome of the M2M rough stones they purchase can
be certified ultimately as true Botswana origin.”



The GIA launched its M2M pilot at the JCK Las Vegas show
last year. The program — developed by GIA scientists — links polished diamonds with their
original rough by assessing stones at various stages of production.



In May, the program had moved past the pilot phase, the GIA said,
and had a growing number of retailers, manufacturers and producers signing up.