IGC Celebrates Centennial

IGC manufacturing in Botswana

(IDEX Online News) – Throughout 2012, Belgian diamond manufacturing company IGC Group will be celebrating its first 100 years’ anniversary.

Jacques Claes, assisted by his diamond-cutting father Frans, started the company in 1912.

Since 1955, the company has been sourcing rough diamonds De Beers and today is DTC’s oldest Sightholder.

A major milestone in the history of the company was the establishment of a large polishing factory in Thailand in 1980. Since then, two more were established, in Laos in 1999 and in Botswana in 2007.

The company started as a specialty manufacturer of 0.70 mm to 3 mm in diameter diamonds. This high precision, highly calibrated polishing technique has made the company the strategic partner of the Swiss watch industry.

In the mid 90’s, the company gradually moved into larger diamonds of up to 2.50 carat.

Today, the company employs more than 1,800 people worldwide, with offices in New York, Hong Kong, Chennai, Shanghai and Chicago.

At the end of this year, IGC Group will move into its new office in a building it is constructing on Schupstraat, in the middle of the Antwerp Diamond District.

"This centenary year not only reminds us of the exciting journey we have made thus far, but also strengthens our determination to build an even brighter future together with our customers and partners," says the company.

IGC Group will celebrate its centenary with a number of projects. Their goal is to give customers an even better idea about what IGC Group is standing for today. In the first half of this year, IGC will launch a new corporate movie.

The firm will also develop an “IGC Group Picture Book” showing the international character of the company "and the beauty of our very professional staff."