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In the early, already-bustling morning hours of a summer day in Tokyo, a gemologist boards a plane headed east, clutching a copy of his latest research on diamond synthetics.

Across the Pacific Ocean, a high-end Los Angeles retailer packs her bags for the next day's two-hour drive, while an Australian mining official, already en route, scribbles the names of long-lost colleagues in his notebook- he'll want to track them down when he arrives.

A group of Sri Lankan colored stone merchants meet at the airport in Colombo for their trip across the world, while a New York-based jewelry designer arrives a day early, just in time to catch a little inspiration from the serene Southern California sunset.

As many as 1,500 gem and jewelry industry leaders - from all corners of the globe - will convene at the 4th International Gemological Symposium hosted by GIA, themed "Navigating the Challenges Ahead," in downtown San Diego.

Alice Keller, editor-in-chief, Gems & Gemology. Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA

Kathryn Kimmel, vice president of Marketing and Public Relations. Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA

The event, held Aug. 27-29 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel, will include world-class lectures, stimulating panel discussions, up-to-the-minute research presentations and glamorous evening galas.

In a word, it's an experience, says GIA President William E. Boyajian. One that can't be missed.

"In three or four days, you're taking in the equivalent of three or four years of planning, thinking, organizing and strategizing," he says. "There are few times in your life when you'll be able to capture this combination of education, networking, motivation and social opportunities. We are creating something that will stay with you the rest of your life."

It's all aimed at bringing the industry together to reflect, plan – and sometimes debate – how it will navigate the uncharted waters of the gem and jewelry business in the 21st century.

"Symposium brings together a variety of people the way no other event does," says Kathryn Kimmel, vice president of Marketing and Public Relations and co-chair of this year's event with Alice Keller, editor-in-chief of Gems & Gemology. "It's where the industry plans its strategy for the next decade."

Symposium founder Dr. Vince Manson. GIA file photo.

A Changing Landscape
When Vince Manson, then director of Research, first proposed the idea of a gemological symposium to president Richard T. Liddicoat some 30 years ago, he thought it would be an ideal way to honor the industry and celebrate the Institute's educational mission, Boyajian says.

"Vince felt we should conduct a Symposium not unlike other scientific disciplines - this was at a time when GIA and the science of gemology were coming of age. His vision was to establish a unique educational and social opportunity with a program so vast it would draw people from all over the world."

Since the first Symposium in 1982 (subsequent events were held in 1991 and 1999), the sometimes-rocky terrain of the gem and jewelry industry's landscape has produced challenges that make an international meeting of this stature more important than ever, Boyajian says.

Substantial developments have surfaced in the trade in the last several years, and according to Kimmel and Keller, they are sweeping through the industry faster and more dramatically than ever before.

"At the last Symposium, the buzz was all about the sophisticated new GE process to lighten off-color diamonds – now known as high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) treatment," Keller says. "Since then, it's become the beryllium diffusion of sapphires, identification of synthetic diamonds and the introduction of lead glass-filled rubies. In 1999, diamond mining had just started in Canada, and now Canadian mines are processing more than 10 million carats a year.

"Technically, there are huge challenges we must address to preserve the integrity of the gem industry and protect the public," she says.

Other hot-button issues have also altered the climate of the gem and jewelry industry, Kimmel adds, namely, the entrée of big box merchandisers like Wal-Mart and Costco in the retail arena, and the undeniable impact of the Internet.

"The Internet was barely a blip in our industry's collective consciousness in 1999, and now it and mass merchandisers have taken a big share of the market," she says.

The broad scope of these changes, coupled with the speed at which they're occurring, creates a compelling need for those in the industry to stay on top of them.

Tom Chatham, Abe Suleman, Richard Hughes and Diana Chatham connect at San Diego's bayside Embarcadero Park during the 3rd International Gemological Symposium. Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA

Susan Eisen, a designer, appraiser and retail jeweler from El Paso, Texas, has attended two previous Symposia and says she depends on them to keep her up-to-date.

"I need to know as much as I can, and Symposium is the equivalent of a graduate course for gemologists," she says. "I'm able to pass on some of the things I learn to my staff, and a lot of it is discussed over the counter with customers. Some of it is used to upgrade my own appraisal skills and research. We're hungry for this information – who else but GIA is going to give it to us?"

Ralph Destino, chairman of GIA, says the Institute tries to anticipate what information is most-needed by industry members.

"GIA's Symposium has always had its eye clearly on the future," he says. "Past Symposia helped us understand and evaluate the importance of branding, to consider the then-coming power of the Internet, and to assess the impact of the global economy on our respective businesses.

"Attendees will have a rare opportunity to experience firsthand the combined intelligence of industry giants as they direct our attention to the new challenges and developments that lay before us."

One of these new developments has accelerated since De Beers' Supplier of Choice program began to require Diamond Trading Company sightholders to strengthen downstream partnerships.

"This has led to more vertically integrated businesses and the opportunities offered at Symposium are consistent with the industry's move in that direction," Kimmel says.

Many Symposium events are designed to allow an optimum amount of networking time, something Kimmel and Keller say has led to the formation of many new business partnerships.

"It's great to witness the variety of individuals who come together at Symposium," Keller says. "At the same table, you might see a diamantaire, someone who works in pearls, a colored stone dealer, a scientist and a mining company executive."

Pearls importer Avi Raz, president of Los Angeles' A&Z Pearls, Inc. and a GIA Diamonds graduate, agreed that diversity is one of his favorite aspects of Symposium.

"I'm always anxious to meet the major players of pearls from around the world, but it's also a must for me to get exposure to other areas of the industry. At Symposium, I can network with a lot of people in different fields," he says.

New on the Horizon
Development of this year's Symposium program has been underway for the last three years, including the January 2005 establishment of an industry advisory board made up of more than 65 leaders from various international trade organizations. Organizers say plans for this year's program are based on extensive feedback from past attendees.

"People are so inundated today and their time is valuable," Keller says. "We've planned a schedule of activities that is faster and has more impact than past Symposia. From the special commentator lectures to the panel discussions, we're going for shorter, faster presentations packed full of 'take-home value'."

Many favorite Symposium staples have been retained and refreshed, but there are plenty of new additions to the roster, Kimmel says.

"We've improved on the popular panel discussions and interactive debate centers from previous years, and we're offering so many new dimensions in 2006. We have world-class keynote speakers and experts from outside the industry and, for the first time ever, a pre-Symposium Gemological Research Conference." (See "Conference Promises Cutting-Edge Research, Expertise," this issue.)

Retailer Tom Tivol of Kansas City, Missouri, says taking in lectures and presentations from so many leaders from within and outside of the industry is a Symposium highlight that always exceeds his expectations.

"Attending lectures with international colleagues, GIA instructors and world leaders; getting state-of-the-art information on gemstone identification; and hearing up-to-the-minute reports on world economics and politics and how each affects the production and distribution of gems are some of the most important aspects of Symposium for me," he says.

Nancy Robey, vice president of global new business development for VNU Expositions Jewelry Group, agrees.

"Hearing from speakers outside of the industry really stretches your imagination," she says.

But attendees can do much more than listen to lectures - they'll have a chance to participate in Debate Centers (formerly known as War Rooms) that will cover subjects like the importance of locality information for colored stones, the future of synthetic diamonds and the role of the Internet. These sessions will enable attendees to interact honestly and passionately, Kimmel says.

"We're trying to lighten up heavy topics. People can go in, debate and come out with solutions. These are serious topics handled in an interesting and productive way," she says.

Eisen, who attended the always-overflowing War Rooms in 1999, says they helped her re-evaluate her stance on important issues.

"I like to challenge the status quo and find ways to be creative for the future," she says. "Those things are high on my list of priorities. There's a lot of value in constant re-evaluation."

The Hot Topic session, a new feature, is designed to mirror the industry's lightning-quick changes, and presenters won't be selected until just before the event, Kimmel says.

"Whatever the topic is at the time, we'll face it."

The Vicenza Trade Fair's Italian fashion show in 1999 was a "beautiful spectacle," says Nancy Robey, vice president of global new business development for VNU Expositions Jewelry Group. "It was so striking – the colors were vivid, there was Italian opera music playing. No one had ever done that kind of evening that way before. It raised the bar for evening events. Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA

A Celebration 75 Years
in the Making
Robey points to evening galas, like the Vicenza Trade Fair's Italian fashion show, as events that have left a lasting impression on her and the industry as a whole.

This year's Italian venture, held on Tuesday evening, is themed "Moods, Sensations, Differentiations: Designing the Soul and Future of Italian Jewelry," and will feature a multi-sensory fashion show that will forecast the colors and trends of jewelry for 2007, Kimmel says.

Other evening events include Monday's Sunset Soiré, sponsored by Dimexon Eurostar, Hearts On Fire. It will be a distinctly Southern California-style party in which attendees will gather at the Manchester Grand Hyatt's fourth-floor pool deck overlooking the San Diego Bay.

Perhaps the most anticipated of the events is the opening-night gala held at GIA's Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, sponsored by The Steinmetz Group. It's GIA's 75th birthday celebration, and Kimmel promises it will be "full of surprises," including top entertainment, special Museum exhibitions and guest celebrities. Roundtrip transportation from downtown San Diego will be provided by the Institute.

"It will be a night people won't forget," Kimmel says. "The perfect ending to the first day."

William E. Boyajian, Giovanni Lasagna, Ralph Destino and Andrea Turcato join soprano Pamela Hicks at the "Arte in Oro" event at the 1999 Symposium. Photo by Melissa Jacobs/GIA

"I was sitting next to Ralph Destino on the bus to Balboa Park," he says. "I'm a small company compared to his company! And we were there exchanging ideas, talking about the industry, and he told me about his experiences. I've been able to meet so many people whom I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to meet, and develop friendships and a good rapport.

"When you have the opportunity to sit next to the chairman of Cartier, there's not a dollar figure you can attach to that. I can't understand how anyone could pass up this opportunity."

For information on how to register for this year's Symposium, visit www.symposium.gia.edu, call (800) 321-6338 or (714) 957-9100 or
e-mail: igs@gia.edu.

Sunday
Madeleine K. Albright
Former U.S. Secretary of State
Opening Keynote

Madeleine Korbel Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State. In 1997, she was named the first woman secretary of state and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. Secretary Albright reinforced America's alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

Monday
Jason Binn
CEO, Niche Media
Morning Session

Jason Binn began his foray into publishing in 1993, launching Ocean Drive magazine on a shoestring budget with only 80 pages. Mirroring its success, Binn recreated the then 20-year-old Hamptons magazine, which served as the springboard for other like-publications including Gotham, Los Angeles Confidential, Aspen Peak, Boston Common and Capitol File. Each of his luxury lifestyle publications features celebrity interviews, fashion, dining and trendsetting.

Sir Ken Robinson
Senior Advisor to the President of the J. Paul Getty Center
Afternoon Session

Voted European Business Speaker of the Year (2000) by over 200 companies, Sir Ken Robinson is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of creativity, leadership and human resources. A prominent force in corporate development, Robinson's vision and expertise are widely sought by businesses that recognize the need to promote stronger creativity, communication and innovative leadership within their companies.

Michael Josephson
President/CEO Josephson Institute of Ethics
Debate Center

One of the nation's experts on character, integrity and ethics, Michael Josephson, founder and president of the Josephson Institute of Ethics, developed the nation's leading character education system based upon the Six Pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Through writings, consultations and broadcasts, he presents a compelling vision of the role of ethics today.

Tuesday
Frank Abagnale
Author, lecturer and consultant
Breakfast Keynote

More than 30 years ago, Frank Abagnale was known as one of the world's most famous confidence men as depicted in his best-selling book, Catch Me If You Can. He was released after five years in prison on the condition that he help the government by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies. Abagnale has since consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies.

Deepak Chopra
CEO and founder, The Chopra Center
Special Luncheon

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind/body medicine, Deepak Chopra, M.D. is the creator of the Chopra Center for Well Being. He is a prolific author, with over 42 books and more than 100 audio, video and CD-ROM titles that have been translated into 35 languages with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.

Maurice Tempelsman
Chairman, Lazare Kaplan International Inc.
Closing Keynote

Maurice Tempelsman is one of the few true statesmen of the jewelry industry. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lazare Kaplan, the largest cutter and polisher of "ideal cut" diamonds in the U.S., he is also senior partner in the firm of Leon Tempelsman & Son, a mining, investment, business development and minerals trading company.

Premier Sponsor
The Steinmetz Group

Platinum Level
Dimexon Eurostar, Hearts On Fire
Vicenza Fair
Charles & Colvard, Ltd.
JCK Magazine
SAFDICO USA INC

Gold Level
ABN AMRO BANK, The VNU Jewelry Group
SWAROVSKI
TJF GROUP

Silver Level
IJB Jewelers Block Insurance
Rapaport
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.
Instore Magazine

Bronze Level
Fancy Collection
"EIGHTERNITY" a division of K.R. Gems & Diamonds Int'l.
H2 Events
Israel Diamond Institute
MVI Marketing Ltd.
Professional Jeweler
TRUE KNOTS by My Way Jewelry Co. Inc.

Participant Sponsorships
For recipients to participate in the GIA Gemological Research Conference
Kazanjian Bros.
Alice S. Keller
Dr. Alfred A. Levinson
Gayane Gevorkyan
Robert E. Kane and Fine Gems International
Massoni Gioielli dal 1790
Sundance Diamonds