By Amber Bowmer

More than 80 attendees gathered for a special Open House at GIA Los Angeles in July to tour the branch's facilities, network with the Southern California jewelry community and meet Donna Baker, GIA acting president and the evening's featured speaker.

Baker addressed recent and upcoming changes at GIA, including plans to open a Dubai campus, and expressed her enthusiasm for the direction in which the Institute is heading. She also discussed GIA's focus on integrating and teaching new technologies to ensure students know how to wield the gemological tools of the future.

Instructors were on hand to answer questions throughout the evening and guests were invited to learn more about the campus during demonstrations and discussions in the school's three well-equipped classrooms. A Museum collection of diamond and colored stone jewelry donated by GIA supporters was also on display.