Okavango to Implement GIA's M2M Tracking

RAPAPORT... Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has signed on to use theGemological Institute of America (GIA)'s M2M tracking program for some of itsrough stones. ODC's July spot auction will be its first to featurediamonds that have been evaluated by the GIA, the diamond-grading organizationsaid 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 andultimately consumers," ODC managing director Marcus ter Haar said Friday. "Thispilot will allow those ODC customers who participate the advantage ofconfirming that the polished outcome of the M2M rough stones they purchase canbe certified ultimately as true Botswana origin." The GIA launched its M2M pilot at the JCK Las Vegas showlast year. The program - developed by GIA scientists - links polished diamonds with theiroriginal 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.