GIA: Alumni Association: Alumni Article Details

Your enthusiasm for our South Seas cultured pearl trip was unanimous: Sign me up! So many of you wanted to join us, the trip sold out in record time.

Watch for details of our next Alumni trip, which will take us to cultured pearl farms in China and Japan in the fall, 2008.

Look for complete coverage of the South Seas trip in the Fall 2007 issue of The Loupe.

Pearl Trip Itinerary:

Your journey begins in Papeete, Tahiti on August 26, continues to New Zealand and ends in Darwin, Australia on September 9.

You will visit one of Robert Wan's pearl farms to experience, first-hand, the harvesting of Tahitian cultured pearls from the Pinctada Margaritifera oyster, visit Wan's museum and the Perliculture Department of the French Polynesia Ministry, and more.

You will visit the Eyris Blue Pearl Company in New Zealand to
experience the processing operation of the Abalone cultured mabe
pearl. Your first stop is in Wainui to visit the Marine Farm, then on
to Akaroa to visit the Blue Pearl Centre. The next day you will travel to
Lansdowne to visit the Pearl Processing Plant.

And then you are off to Darwin, Australia where you will be hosted by the Paspaley Pearling Company. You will experience the harvesting of South Sea pearls in their off-shore location, visit a pearl room, pearling museum, ship yard and a retail store.

You will end your trip with a hosted dinner and a pearl meat tasting! And have a relaxing day in the city of Darwin before departing for home.

The program cost NOT including airfare is: $4,597 per person double occupancy and $5,841 per person single occupancy.

Email alumni@gia.edu if you are interested in receiving more information.