New Research Fund Comes at Most Opportune Time

I want to first and foremost congratulate each of you who were inducted into GIA’s League of Honor in New York in October. It was a wonderful time to catch up with old friends, network, but most importantly, to honor those who gave so generously to help further GIA’s mission to secure the public’s trust.

As I have said in past columns, your donations are an investment toward the important work GIA does to uphold high standards and ensure we have the latest research information, which ultimately benefits all of us in the gem and jewelry industry.

I was also pleased to learn that GIA established the G. Robert Crowningshield Research Fund at the League of Honor dinner. Announcement of this endowed fund couldn’t have come at a better time. Many of you are aware of the challenges the industry faces, but HPHT and synthetic yellow diamonds were brought to the forefront of customers’ minds after extensive consumer media coverage late last year.

We can’t allow questions that such media fanfare raises to threaten the public’s trust in our industry and the integrity of our products. Only through solid research can answers to such questions ensure public confidence and dispel uncertainty. That’s why I encourage you to make a significant gift to this newly created fund. Your donation will assure the continuation of GIA’s research advancements into the future.

Finally, I applaud GIA for its continued commitment to synthetic and treatment research so the public and industry members can be put at ease. I can’t think of a more appropriate gemological pioneer to name the new fund after.

The contributions and major discoveries G. Robert Crowningshield has made in gem identification and education are invaluable. Many of the techniques he established in the course of his work are still used by researchers today. This is a testament to his scientific genius that will continue to shine as an example for future gemologists.

Matt Stuller
Chairman,
GIA Endowment Campaign