Now, wish them the 24-carat way!

DUBAI: Greeting cards can't get more expensive than this.

The Dubai-based International Diamond Laboratories (IDL) is now offering customers personal messages inscribed on diamonds, which one can gift to loved ones.

And the service is now being lapped up by people here in this Islamic holy month of Ramadan and for the upcoming festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.

"Greeting friends and family during Eid and giving them memorable gifts is a tradition that is very much cherished to this day," the Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted Peter Meeus, chief executive of IDL, as saying.

"With our laser inscription services, it is now possible to give a modern twist - Eid greetings said with diamonds," he added.

Among the many inscription requests IDL has received are 'Happy Ramadan', 'Happy Eid' and 'Eid Mubarak'.

"We initially launched laser inscription to write IDL certificate number on diamonds and protect their identity. Now it is being widely used by customers to convey personal messages. We see this as a growing trend," Meeus said.

IDL is a Dubai government initiative to provide diamond certification.

A subsidiary of the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre (DMCC), its diamond certificates are designed to accurately define the four Cs of diamonds - carats, colour, clarity and cut.