Founders
The Cohen Family
Bruce Cohen comes from a family with many generations in the diamond industry. He took lead of the family in the trade in the 1970's in Johannesburg South Africa, and continues in Australia.
Michael Cohen is the eldest of two sons. During the 1980’s, he served an apprenticeship as a diamond polisher, cleaver and marker for a major DeBeers sightholder. In the 1990's Michael established offices in Kimberly, Wolmaranstad and diamond cutting works in Johannesburg, South Africa, from where the family produced polished diamonds and traded in rough and polished diamonds around the globe.
Roy Cohen, the younger of the two brothers, worked for the Anglo American Corporation for several years before joining the family business in the 90’s. His was active in the trading of rough diamonds and developing mining interests in the Kimberly area of South Africa and other African countries.
Establishing the Laboratory
The DCLA was born out of the need to bring the International Diamond Council (IDC) standard to Australia. After immigrating to Australia in 2001 and studying the Australian market, the Cohens realised that the IDC standard, which until then was only available in Antwerp, South Africa and Germany could be a real asset to the Australian diamond and jewellery market.
It was out of this need that the DCLA was founded.
Mr. Les Milner, the head of the Jewellery Council Laboratory was instrumental in the planning and infrastructure of the DCLA and brought years of experience to the equation.
Laboratory Expansion & Growth
DCLA continues to grow and expand its profile, and reach around Australia and indeed the world.
The DCLA certificate is widely recognised as the Australian benchmark, and one of the most accurate and consistent grading laboratories worldwide.
The DCLA has a bright future, and together with the dealers and jewellers will continue to protect the Australian market by protecting the Australian consumer.
DCLA can do all of this by being the most proficient state of the art laboratory in Australia, and the only laboratory that provides a full guarantee of its work.
DCLA Today
The DCLA remains at the forefront of technical ability and knowledge.
Providing the consumer with the assurance, and the trade with the confidence, that they are buying or selling the quality stated.
DCLA certificates will continue to protect the integrity in the trade by protecting the consumer first.
The diamond trading floor that gives all diamond buyers direct access to DCLA guaranteed diamonds from Australian diamond dealers.
latest news
Friday 20 January, 2012
WORKSHOP: DIAMOND BUYING FOR CONSUMERS
Friday 9th March - Sign up for our 2 to 3 hour hands on workshop and discover what you need to know to buy the right diamond at the right price.
Thursday 19 January, 2012
OPPENHEIMERS SELL DE BEERS DIAMONDS STAKE
South Africa’s Oppenheimer dynasty has ended a century in the diamond business which shaped the region, selling its 40% of De Beers to global miner Anglo American for A$4.91 billion.
Friday 11 November, 2011
DIAMOND BUYING WORKSHOP FOR CONSUMERS
DCLA’s next in-laboratory workshop on ‘How to Buy a Diamond’ is set for Friday December 2.
Thursday 27 October, 2011
FOR JEWELLERS: WORKSHOP FOR DIAMOND SALES STAFF
DCLA diamond experts will walk participants through a diamond course specifically tailored for on-floor sales staff, in a hands on workshop presented at the DCLA Laboratory.
Monday 29 August, 2011
JEWELLERY WORLD
A new jewellery show produced by Jewellery World, Australia’s professional jewellery magazine, and Interpoint Events, an award winning exhibition company, will be launched next year.
Friday 20 May, 2011
DCLA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
On May 2nd, 2011 The DCLA celebrated ten years in business as one of the world’s leading diamond certification laboratories.
Wednesday 4 May, 2011
AGS LAUNCHES DIAMOND SEARCH PLATFORM
The American Gem Society, in partnership with Verichannel, announced today the launch of a specialized search engine for diamonds graded by AGS Lab, available from AGS suppliers.