Gemological Institute of America has agreed to acquire a 30% shareholding in Tracr, the diamond provenance platform developed by De Beers Group, in a move aimed at supporting the platform’s transition towards independent ownership and wider industry adoption.
The agreement was announced by De Beers and GIA on 29 May. It follows a collaboration established in 2023, when eligible GIA diamond grading reports began incorporating provenance information recorded on the Tracr platform.
Focus on Provenance and Traceability
Tracr was launched by De Beers in 2018 as a blockchain-based platform designed to track diamonds from the point of recovery through the supply chain. The platform was opened to the wider diamond industry in 2023 as part of efforts to position it as an industry-wide solution for diamond traceability and provenance verification.
The investment comes as provenance and country-of-origin information continue to gain importance within the diamond trade, reflecting regulatory developments, supply chain transparency requirements and consumer interest in diamond sourcing.
According to De Beers, more than five million rough diamonds have been registered on Tracr, representing around two-thirds of the company’s rough diamond production by value. Since January 2025, all newly sourced De Beers rough diamonds of one carat and above have been registered on the platform with single-country-of-origin information available.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said: “Consumers deserve to know where their diamonds come from and they should feel more confident in their understanding of each diamond’s source. At De Beers we have been providing provenance data on diamonds through Tracr for several years and we believe that delivering provenance should become an industry standard.
“Following our promise to open Tracr up to broad ownership, we are proud to be partnering with GIA as Tracr evolves into an independent, industry-wide platform. We will work alongside GIA to advance provenance transparency for the entire diamond sector.”
GIA Deepens Involvement
For GIA, the investment expands its involvement in diamond provenance and traceability alongside its existing activities in grading, identification and education.
Pritesh Patel, president and CEO of GIA, said: “At GIA, our mission has always been rooted in trust, integrity, and consumer confidence. Our collaboration with Tracr over the past several years reinforced our belief that combining source-based blockchain provenance with GIA’s independent grading and identification expertise can help unlock a new level of transparency for the diamond industry.
“As Tracr continues to scale globally, we see a tremendous opportunity to deliver meaningful, verifiable provenance information from the source to the consumer. We are proud to deepen our commitment through this investment and help shape the next evolution of transparency, traceability, and trust across our industry.”
Industry Implications
The transaction forms part of De Beers’ plan to broaden ownership of Tracr and support its use across the natural diamond sector rather than primarily among De Beers suppliers.
For jewellers and diamond suppliers, wider adoption of provenance platforms could increase the availability of verifiable origin data at the point of sale and within grading documentation. Such systems are also becoming more relevant as retailers seek to respond to consumer questions about sourcing and comply with evolving traceability requirements in key markets.
Jillian Wolk, CEO of Tracr, said: “The start of Tracr’s evolution into an independent platform, as a result of GIA’s investment, creates a strong foundation for the future. I am excited to continue scaling the platform and bringing more producers on board, which will support Tracr in enabling the individual journey of every registered diamond to come to life.
“Each stone carries its own narrative, defined by its source and the craftsmanship that has shaped it, and as Tracr continues to grow we have a fantastic opportunity to help reveal those unique stories.”
