This year marks GIA’s 75th anniversary, an appropriate occasion to celebrate the Institute’s many accomplishments over the decades. The more than 300,000 students who have completed its educational programs. The creation in 1953 of the International Diamond Grading System™, the industry standard for analyzing polished diamonds. The gemological instruments and research discoveries it has fostered.

Yet GIA’s diamond anniversary is also an appropriate time to take stock of its service mission and consider the age-old question, “What have you done for me lately?”

• Diamond cut, the most complex of the 4 Cs, has been the subject of extensive research at the Institute. January 1 saw the introduction of the GIA Diamond Cut Grading system for standard round brilliant cut diamonds in the D-to-Z color range. To familiarize the industry with the techniques and terminology of the new system, free seminars have been conducted in cities worldwide. The entire “GIA on Diamond Cut” series of research articles is available at www.gia.edu/research, and all three G&G diamond cut articles can be downloaded free at www.gia.edu/gemsandgemology.
• Several other research efforts continue, such as identifying the latest generation of synthetic diamonds and detecting beryllium diffusion in a range of corundum colors. These studies are aimed at protecting public confidence in the industry, and the Institute’s researchers routinely present their results in journals and at conferences throughout the world.
• In February, the GIA Laboratory expanded its identification services so that rubies, sapphires, and alexandrites—in addition to emeralds—now receive their own gem-specific reports. In response to increasingly sophisticated techniques for enhancing colored stones, the updated reports contain detailed information on any treatments that have been applied.
• GIA Education is constantly updating its core diamond, colored stones, and jewelry manufacturing arts programs—most recently, a major revision of its Gem Identification course. This October, the GIA School of Business will launch a college-level degree program, culminating in a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) diploma, which will further raise the academic profile of gemology and the jewelry industry.
• On the international front, the Institute now has campuses in nine countries, with the Dubai campus scheduled to open in 2007.
• The Institute provides complimentary access to many informative resources, including: The Loupe, the news magazine for the industry; the GIA Insider, the Institute’s biweekly electronic newsletter; and the online tutorials “How to Buy a Diamond” and “How to Buy a Gemstone.” The G&G section of the website (www.gia.edu) includes a data depository, several free article downloads, and the entire set of back issues from 1934 through 1980.
• The Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center, located at GIA’s Carlsbad headquarters, serves as the repository of gemological knowledge for the public and members of the trade. The Library’s growing collection of some 38,000 books, 300 periodicals, and 1,000 videos are available for on-site research. Just e-mail library@gia.edu for assistance from the Library’s helpful staff.
• The constantly expanding GIA Museum in Carlsbad houses an extensive collection of gems and jewelry, making it a valuable educational resource for the Institute’s students and the public. Some samples may be loaned for nondestructive research. Scheduled tours of the museum’s galleries are available on weekdays, and admission is free (to schedule a tour, call 760-603-4116).
• The Institute’s career services department supports jobseekers and employers by maintaining a free database of jobs available in the gem and jewelry industry. In addition, GIA students and graduates are eligible to receive free career preparation assistance. Two annual GIA Jewelry Career Fairs—in New York in July and Carlsbad in October—match jobseekers with companies and offer one-on-one career coaching, at no cost to attendees (e-mail careerservices@gia.edu).
• Over the years, through the generous support of the industry, GIA has awarded hundreds of scholarships to deserving students. In 2004 and 2005 alone, 54 scholarships were awarded for a total of over $196,000.
• With more than 30 chapters worldwide, the GIA Alumni Association provides an important vehicle for continuing education as well as communication.
• And, of course, Gems & Gemology, which now goes to subscribers in more than 100 countries worldwide, continues to receive most of its funding directly from GIA, as part of the Institute’s mission to serve the industry and the gem-buying public.

I do not normally use this forum to talk about GIA, as G&G is a technical journal for and about the entire gemological community. But without GIA, there would be no Gems & Gemology, just as there would be no International Diamond Grading System, no Graduate Gemologist diploma, and no Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library. That’s an important message to share as the Institute celebrates 75 years of service.

So, what have you done for us lately, GIA? More than we can say.

Alice S. Keller
Editor-in-Chief