What the GIA Has Going On in Tucson

Lessons on lab-grown diamonds and on-site laboratory services are just two of the activities the GIA has planned for the upcoming gem shows.

Brecken Branstrator brecken.branstrator@nationaljeweler.com

The Gemological Institute of America will have 13 of the finest minerals from the Joel and Barbara Hauser Mineral Collection on display in Tucson.

Carlsbad, Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America has a number of activities planned for attendees of the upcoming Tucson gem shows.

The GIA will be present at the American Gem Trade Association GemFair (Jan. 31 to Feb. 5) and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (Feb. 9 to 12), both of which take place at the Tucson Convention Center.

Highlights of its schedule for its time out in the desert is as follows.

GIA Show Service Laboratory
GIA will offer access to gem identification and country-of-origin services during the show. They will accept gemstones on-site at the AGTA GemFair, Monday, Jan. 30 to Sunday, Feb. 5.

Free GIA Seminars
“Rediscovering the Chivor Emerald Mine--In the Footsteps of Peter W. Rainier”
Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Manager of Photography and Visual Communications Robert Weldon will tell the tale of Peter W. Rainier, a South African who ran Colombia’s Chivor emerald mine in the 1920s.

“The Latest News from GIA Research”
Friday, Feb. 3 from 9 to 10 a.m.
Distinguished Research Fellow James Shigley will provide an update on its latest research on diamonds, colored stones and other timely topics of interest.

“Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones”
Friday, Feb. 10 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Librarian Rose Tozer will talk about the significance of this rare 1925 catalog of Romanov jewels, as well as the library’s digitization project involving its rarest and most historically important works.

Education
The GIA will offer one fee-based lab class and two fee-based lecture/labs during AGTA GemFair. Pre-registration is required; call GIA admissions at 800-421-7250, ext. 4001 or 760-603-4001 to sign up.

GEM 240L Gem Identification Lab Class
Monday through Friday, Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In this class, students will practice the same procedures and identification skills that the GIA’s gem experts use. They will use gemological instruments to practice identifying natural gemstones, imitations, assembled stones and lab-grown stones through hands-on training.

“Identifying Inclusions in Corundum and Emerald”
Saturday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
In this seminar, students will delve into the inclusions of specially chosen rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Through both a lecture and hands-on practice, they will look up close at gems from new sources, learn how to recognize certain types of inclusions, and understand how they help laboratory gemologists determine geologic origin, country of origin and potential treatments.

“Identifying Synthetic and Imitation Colored Stones”
Saturday, Feb. 4, 1 to 3 p.m.
This session is designed to

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sharpen gem identification skills. Through both a lecture and hands-on practice with a microscope and a selection of “unusual synthetics and challenging new imitations,” students will learn the key identifying features to be able to detect these materials.

Museum and Library Exhibits
1. Synthetic Diamonds at AGTA GemFair
The GIA will display a variety of samples of diamonds grown by the HPHT and CVD methods, putting large colorless and colored rough HPHT, large colorless and colored faceted HPHT, rough CVD, faceted CVD, rough HPHT melee and faceted HPHT melee diamonds side-by-side with natural diamonds.

2. The Fersman Catalog at TGMS
The GIA library’s copy of “Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones” by A.E. Fersman is one of the few surviving examples of a Bolshevik-era catalog of royal jewels that were seized during the Russian Revolution. The library will have a special display at TGMS for the catalog, including a historical figure of Catherine the Great and replicas of notable diamonds the Orlov and the Shah.
http://www.nationaljeweler.com/independents/ecommerce/4642-gia-library-digitizes-rare-jewelry-books

3. Highlights of the Hauser Collection at TGMS
GIA’s museum recently acquired a collection of ornamental minerals of exceptional size and quality from the Joel and Barbara Hauser Mineral Collection, many of which are from localities that either have restricted access or no longer are producing. At TGMS, attendees will be able to view 13 of the more than 60 specimens in the collection.

More information on the GIA’s Tucson schedule can be found on GIA.edu.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.