The Vajra Industry Research & Academic Meet (VAIRAM) Workshop 2025, held on 10th February at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Research Park in Chennai, emerged as a landmark event in the lab-grown diamond (LGD) sector in India. Organised by India Centre for Lab Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD) at IIT Madras in association with GJEPC, the VAIRAM workshop provided a platform for insightful discussions on the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities within the LGD industry.

The event encouraged a dynamic exchange of ideas, challenges, and opportunities, bringing together more than 250 industry thought leaders, prominent researchers, and key decision-makers to chart the future of this burgeoning sector.

Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, delivered the welcome remarks, setting the tone for a day filled with thought-provoking discussions.

In his speech, Mr. R. Arulanandan, Director, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, said, “India’s strength in the diamond industry is like a diamond itself – resilient, adaptable and ever evolving. With over 50% of the global value chain rooted in India, our focus must now be on data, innovation and policy to drive this sector forward. The future of diamonds – both natural and lab-grown – is India’s to shape.”

Introducing InCent-LGD: Paving the Way for India to Become the Global Hub for Industry-Grade Lab-Grown Diamonds

Prof. M.S. Ramachandra Rao introduced India Centre for Lab Grown Diamond (InCent-LGD), an initiative by IIT Madras. Highlighting the importance of Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) technologies, Prof. Rao emphasised InCent-LGD’s crucial role in achieving India’s ambition to become the world’s leading producer of industry-grade lab-grown diamonds. Currently second to China in LGD production, India aims to capitalise on the rapidly expanding market, projected to grow from $1 billion to $15 billion in the near future.

As the leader of InCent-LGD, Prof. Rao’s vision is to establish India as a dominant player through the development of advanced technologies like HPHT and Microwave Plasma CVD (MPCVD), coupled with strong industry partnerships. InCent-LGD’s five key areas—MPCVD, plasma generation, HPHT, analytical labs, and training—are driving progress. The centre has developed HPHT system and CVD machine prototypes, focusing on the crucial growth recipes for high-quality diamonds. While challenges such as limited industry collaboration and dependence on imported materials remain, significant strides have been made. Beyond gem-quality applications, InCent-LGD is exploring the use of LGDs in diverse fields like AI, 5G, power electronics, quantum photonics, and even water purification. The centre’s work includes developing quantum computing technologies and high-performance tools like plasma diagnostic systems and SSMGs. To address skill gaps, IIT Madras has launched a Skill India course on LGD technology, and a planned research park will further bridge academia and industry. With continued focus on high-purity gases, certified seeds, and advanced growth recipes, India is well-positioned to realise its goal of becoming the global LGD hub. Prof. M.S. Ramachandra Rao remarked, “40 years ago India missed the ‘Silicon Bus’, but this time it will not miss the ‘Diamond Bus’.”

Beyond Gems: Exploring the Next-Gen Applications of Lab-Grown Diamonds

The Vairam workshop featured a panel discussion titled “Beyond Gems: Next-Generation Applications of Lab-Grown Diamonds,” moderated by Prof. S Sathyan of IIT Madras. The panellists included industry experts such as Mr. Vraj Trivedi, Managing Director, Maitri Diamonds Inc.; Mr. G Harish Vathan, Strategic Partner, Creative Diam; Mr. Keval Virani of SP3 Technologies; and Mr. Padnamabh Bagaria, Director, KPE Pvt. Ltd. The discussion focused on identifying the innovative applications of lab-grown diamonds beyond their traditional use in jewellery – exploring their potential in various fields.

LGDs, being chemically inert, hold immense potential in industries beyond gems, including electronics, water treatment, aerospace, defence engineering, precision optics, and manufacturing. Their superior hardness, thermal conductivity, and chemical stability make them ideal for next-gen technologies. Discussions covered LGDs in several key areas, including high-performance cutting tools, thermal management systems, quantum computing, and advanced sensors. The panellists explored how these properties can be leveraged for advancements in these diverse fields.

Lab-Grown Diamond Growth and Treatment Recipes and Challenges: A Deep Dive into CVD & HPHT Methods

The VAIRAM workshop also hosted a panel discussion dedicated to the intricacies of lab-grown diamond creation and enhancement. Titled “Lab-Grown Diamond Growth and Treatment Recipes and Challenges (CVD & HPHT methods),” the panel was moderated by Prof. N. Arunachalam of IIT Madras. Experts including Mr. Manish Jiwani, Director, Smiling Rocks; Dr. Tarun Sharda, Partner, GreenD Technologies LLP; Dr. Maneesh Chandran, Assistant Professor, NIT; and Mr. Kautil Kumar Patel, Director, Riddhi Corporation, shared their insights.

The discussion aimed to identify the challenges faced in diamond analysis and certification, covering the assessment of gems, jewellery, and even diamond seeds, highlighting the importance of standardised quality checks across the industry.

The experts discussed the importance of robust quality standards and evolving certification methodologies to ensure consumer confidence. This included the intricacies of CVD and HPHT treatment recipe methods, noting that diamond colouration through irradiation or doping is a trial-and-error process based on purity. The panel also emphasised the importance of qualifying seeds for specific industrial applications through thorough scientific analysis and experience. The industry’s need to invest in R&D to make progress and survive global competition was also highlighted.

While increasing the nitrogen quantity can speed up the HPHT growth rate (making it cost-effective for gem quality), the panel noted it may not be suitable for other industrial applications. Optimising growth parameters, impurity control, and enhancement techniques for superior-quality diamonds were also covered. Challenges discussed included maintaining consistency, reducing defects, achieving scalability, and dependency on high-purity raw materials. Future emphasis will be placed on refining processes, improving sustainability, and strengthening collaboration between research and industry for advanced LGD production.

Diamond Quality Checks and Certification for Gems, Jewellery, and Seeds

The VAIRAM workshop addressed the crucial topic of diamond quality control with a panel titled “Diamond Quality Checks and Certification (Gem, Jewellery and Seeds).” Moderated by Mr. Samir Joshi, Executive Director, IDI Surat, and Prof. M S Ramachandra Rao of InCent-LGD, IIT Madras, the panel brought together key figures in the diamond industry. Panellists included Mr. Sriram Natarajan, Managing Director, GIA India; Mr. Tehmasp Printer, Managing Director & CEO, International Gemological Institute (IGI), Ms. Kareena Shahani, Director-Laboratory, IGI; Mr. Arnav Mehta, Managing Director, Blue Star Diamonds; Mr. Milind Varhadpande, Diamond Grading & Mobile Lab Services, Gemmological Institute of India (GII); and Mr. Gagan Choudhary, Director of the IIGJ-Research & Laboratories Centre, Jaipur.

The discussion focused on the challenges and best practices in diamond quality checks and certification. The speakers noted that accuracy of certification and grading of LGDs is challenged by advanced treatments, making determining the diamond origin extremely important. Key challenges include ensuring accuracy in grading, maintaining standardisation, and detecting undisclosed synthetics. Traceability of a tested item is a major issue.

The mimicking of growth patterns of natural diamonds in LGDs poses a serious challenge. Grading LGDs presents different challenges compared to natural diamonds, especially in colour, and requires developing secondary reference masters. Labs need to consider the saturation and intensity of the hue, not only the colour, for LGDs. Clarity characteristics are different for natural and LGDs due to, for instance, the presence of metallic inclusions. Borderline clusters of colour grading are challenging areas where even AI struggles to grade accurately. Naturals are typically cut for maximum weight retention, whereas LGDs are generally cut to perfection.

Emphasis should be on advanced testing methodologies, technology-driven grading, and industry-wide consistency. Ensuring consumer confidence will require strengthening quality assurance frameworks to build trust in diamonds across global markets. The panel acknowledged that LGDs are both supplementary and complementary to the diamond industry.

The Machinery Behind the Sparkle: Lab-Grown Diamond Equipment and Processing

The VAIRAM workshop explored the technological backbone of the lab-grown diamond industry with a panel titled “Lab Grown Diamond Machines and Processing Equipment (CVD, HPHT, Laser Cutting and Polishing, Analytical Instruments).” Moderated by Prof. S. Sathyan of IIT Madras, the panel featured experts in equipment manufacturing and related fields. Speakers included Mr. Hardik Narola, Director, Narola Machines; Dr. Nishanth Sirse, Director (R&D) CSAR – IPS Academy, Indore; Mr. Rajneesh Vaish, Director of Ornategems India; Mr. Mayank Patel, Director, Sahajanand Laser Technology Limited; and Mr. Subash Pai, CTO, Excel Instruments. The discussion focused on the machinery used in CVD and HPHT diamond growth, as well as laser cutting and polishing equipment and analytical instruments. A key objective was to identify the challenges in developing indigenous equipment for this rapidly evolving sector.

The discussion focused on the machinery used in CVD and HPHT diamond growth, as well as laser cutting and polishing equipment and analytical instruments, with a key objective to identify the challenges in developing indigenous equipment for this rapidly evolving sector. The discussion stressed the need for indigenous equipment manufacturing to enhance India’s self-reliance in LGD production.

The panel covered machinery for CVD & HPHT growth, laser cutting, polishing, and analytical instruments, noting that LGD growing is both an art and a feat of technology. HPHT is comparatively easy to grow as it just needs high temperature and high pressure with some chemicals. On the other hand, CVD requires knowledge of multiple components such as chemicals, plasma technology & understanding, physics, etc.

Challenges in equipment development include the need for high-precision machinery, cost-effective solutions, and scalability for mass production. HPHT machines are mainly imported, and the lifespan of key components is very short. Dumping of HPHT from China and CVD from India is driving down profit.

Indigenous manufacturing was encouraged, with emphasis on reducing dependency on imports by developing advanced, homegrown equipment. India has made good progress in developing indigenous MPCVD machines but still depends on imports for high-power components. Greater collaboration between industry and academia is needed to drive innovation in LGD technology and processing.

The workshop concluded with a summary session and open forum discussion, led by Prof. M.S. Ramachandra Rao of IIT Madras, where participants deliberated on future strategies for innovation and industry growth. The need for continued collaboration between academic institutions and the LGD industry was a recurring theme throughout the event.

The day concluded with a lab tour, providing attendees with a firsthand look at cutting-edge LGD research and development facilities.

The VAIRAM Workshop 2025 successfully set the stage for future breakthroughs in lab-grown diamonds, reinforcing India’s leadership in this dynamic industry. As the sector continues to evolve, such collaborative forums will be crucial in shaping its future trajectory.

Courtesy : GJEPC