Avi Meirom

GWLAB Chairman

Avi Meirom has been engaged with gems for more than forty years, specializing in large-scale production and trading of diamonds, and precious and semi-precious stones.

In 1975, together with Menahem Sevdermish, he founded the first-ever gemological institute in Israel, known as GIPS, which operates to this day under its new name – GWLAB.

In 1987, Mr. Meirom was appointed as president of the Israeli Precious Stones and Diamonds Exchange (IPSDE), a position he held for over ten years, and was very active in advancing the gem industry in Israel and designing applicable laws, rules and regulations related to the gem trade in Israel. Mr. Meirom initiated and did much to promote projects of research and development of new commercial areas in gems, and to cooperate with scientists at the Soreq nuclear research center, at the University of the Negev and at the Negev Nuclear Research Center in Dimona. Meirom also established joint activities with mining and polishing factories in Israel and abroad, and with large-scale financial factors that led to extensive donation to the gem industry in Israel.

As President of the IPSDE, Mr. Meirom succeeded in his push to add the IPSDE as an official member of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB). In addition, he initiated the first International Congress for colored stones, held in Israel in 1983, and acted as the chairperson of the congress management team. A year later, Mr. Meirom was among other initiators who established the International Colored Stones Association (ICA). In 2003, Mr. Meirom was appointed to ICA Vice President, a role he served for 3 years.

In 2015, Mr. Meirom received the Honorary Diamond Industry Member award from the Israel Diamond Exchange (ISDE) for his long-time contribution to the gem and diamond industry over the years.