HRD Antwerp expands Mumbai lab capacity by 30% to 2,000 diamonds a day
HRD Antwerp has reopened its renovated diamond and jewellery grading lab in Mumbai’s BKC, adding capacity for up to 2,000 diamonds daily and 40 full-time roles. India contributes 59% of group revenue and is projected to grow 15.4% this year.
What happened
HRD Antwerp inaugurated an expanded Mumbai BKC diamond and jewellery grading lab, raising capacity 30% to 2,000 diamonds daily and adding 40 jobs. India, its
Key facts
- 30% increase in Mumbai research and grading capacity
- Up to 2,000 diamonds graded per day
- 40 additional full-time employees
- India accounts for 59% of group revenue
- Indian business expected to grow 15.4% this year
- Global growth projected at 12.6%
- Jewellery grading contributes 47% of total revenue increase
- Around 1,500 Indian clients
- Operating in India since 2012
Why this matters
Expanded Mumbai capabilities make HRD Antwerp a more scalable local partner for jewellery retailers, manufacturers and diamond suppliers seeking faster certification and grading services.
What to watch
- Mumbai lab utilization rate and whether daily submissions approach the 2,000-diamond capacity.
- Certification turnaround times, pricing changes and market-share responses from rival grading laboratories.
- India jewellery export growth and domestic wedding/festival jewellery demand.
- The mix of natural versus laboratory-grown diamonds submitted for grading.
- New retailer or manufacturer partnerships, especially with national jewellery chains.
- Evidence that India revenue growth meets or exceeds the projected 15.4% annual rate.
- Add faster-turnaround and priority grading tiers for Mumbai-based exporters and large jewellery chains.
- Expand digital certificate verification, origin-data capture and retailer-facing traceability tools to make certification stickier.
- Target lab-grown diamond grading and screening services while preserving premium natural-diamond certification positioning.
- Build commercial partnerships with Indian jewellery retailers, manufacturers and trade bodies ahead of peak wedding and festival demand.
- Use the expanded Mumbai workforce to consolidate regional back-office, training and quality-control functions.