GIA Announces Lineup for Tucson 2016

The Gemological Institute of America’s offerings in Tucson this year include a show service laboratory, exhibitions and seminars.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

Carlsbad, Calif.--The Gemological Institute of America’s activities at the upcoming gemstone shows in Tucson include a show service laboratory, exhibitions and seminars.

Mother Nature Sings the BluesThe GIA will have a presence at both the American Gem Trade Association GemFair, scheduled for Feb. 2 to 7, and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Feb. 11 to 14, both of which take place at the Tucson Convention Center.

Highlights of the institute’s Tucson lineup are as follows.

Show Service Laboratory
Show attendees and exhibitors will have access to gem identification and country-of-origin services through the GIA. It will accept gemstones on-site at AGTA GemFair in the Onyx Suite from Monday, Feb. 1 to Saturday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 5p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Seminars
On Friday, Feb. 5 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Mojave Room at GemFair, GIA’s Distinguished Research Fellow James Shigley will provide a free seminar on “The Latest News from GIA Research,” including an update on the GIA’s latest research on diamonds, colored stones and other topics of interest.

Education
The GIA will offer one fee-based lab class and two fee-based lecture/labs during GemFair. Pre-registration is required; call GIA admissions at (800) 421 7250 ext. 4001 to register for the seminars, and visit GIA’s website to register for the lab.

1. Diamond Grading Lab Class
Monday through Friday, Feb. 1 to 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This class will teach how to grade diamonds consistently and accurately using a modern gem microscope and a jeweler’s loupe. Participants will study the GIA’s diamond grading system, learn shortcuts to determine a variety of grading factors, and be introduced to methods for reading a GIA Diamond Grading Report. They must pass a two-stone practical test to complete the class successfully.

2. Identifying Gemstone Treatments Seminar
Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 to 11 a.m.
This presentation and hands-on lab led by GIA instructors will introduce participants to the various treatment processes used in the gemstone market, as well as treatment identification of commercially important gemstones used in jewelry.

3. Identifying Diamond Treatments Seminar
Saturday, Feb. 6, 1 to 3 p.m.
Another presentation and hands-on lab led by GIA instructors, this seminar provides information on the nature and treatment of diamonds, including laser-drilling, fracture-filling, HPHT and irradiation.

Museum Exhibits
GIA’s museum exhibit “Striking Gold!” will be held at

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GemFair from Feb. 2 to 7. A number of transparent yellow gem species and varieties on the market, including sapphire, citrine, topaz and more unusual, collector gem minerals, will be on view.

At the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the museum will have an exhibition called “Mother Nature Sings the Blues,” featuring blue gems and jewelry to coincide with the show’s “Shades of Blue: Minerals of the World” theme.

Library Exhibit
The GIA’s library will feature some of its mineralogy and gemology books at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. “Providing Access in a Digital World” will give visitors insight into the library’s recent digitization project, which made many of its rare and historically significant books available online to the public.

Additional information about these events and more can be found on the GIA website.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.