Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI) is a diamond manufacturing and distribution company based in New York City.
LKI's main business activity is cutting and polishing "ideal-cut" and "fine make" diamonds, which it sells to upscale retail jewelers throughout the world.
Although primarily based in the United States, LKI also has sales offices in Belgium, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
It established a joint manufacturing partnership with Alrosa (the Russian government-owned mining company), with cutting facilities in Moscow and Barnaul.
In 2002, LKI was awarded a patent, jointly with the General Electric Company, for the high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) process for improving the color of certain all-natural diamond types.
In addition, LKI has secured numerous patents on diamond setting techniques and innovations in displays for loose polished stones and jewelry.
On May 17, 2010, Lazare Kaplan sued various Lloyd's of London syndicates and European insurers for $640 million in damages arising from the disappearance of diamonds.
[6] The LKI system of controls was instituted before the existence of this UN Resolution, and received special commendation from the UN for its contribution to stemming the flow of conflict diamonds.
LKI supports and implements, within the scope of its influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, development, labor standards and environmental sustainability.
The SA8000 standard and verification system provides a credible, comprehensive and efficient measure of humane workplace practices and public responsibility.