Longtime Christie’s Director to Share Tales of Record-Breaking Gemstone Sales

Thailand campus to host 42nd GIA Gemstone Gathering

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Jan. 12, 2011 – GIA (Gemological Institute of America) will host David Warren, senior director, Christie’s of London, at the next Gemstone Gathering on Jan. 19 in Bangkok. Warren’s lecture, “The Peculiar Life of an Auctioneer,” will provide insight into how Christie's operates and his personal stories from more than 30 years in handling some of the world’s finest gemstones.

Warren began his career with Christie’s 32 years ago in the Jewellery Department in Scotland and moved to Christie’s Head Office in London in 1980. He relocated to Hong Kong in 1993 to set up jewelry, watch and jadeite auctions and to develop Christie’s jewelry expansion in South East Asia. Warren returned to London in 1995 as head of Jewellery after Hong Kong’s annual sales soared to $40 million and a skilled team of specialists was established.

More recently, Warren was responsible for starting Christie’s jewelry and watch auctions in Dubai in 2007 and for developing jewelry activities throughout the Middle East. A major event in this region was “The Royal House” sale in 2006 that totaled $36 million and was 100 percent sold – the highest total for any single owner jewelry collection ever sold by Christie’s.

Warren has achieved many other world record prices for jewels sold at auction. He has written numerous articles and lectured extensively in South East Asia, South America, the Middle East and the United Kingdom.

“We are honored to have David share his rich knowledge and experiences at one of the most respected auction houses in the world,” said Kenneth Scarratt, managing director of GIA Southeast Asia and director of the GIA Laboratory in Bangkok. “This is an exceptional learning opportunity for attendees to hear from such a well-recognized authority on gems and jewelry.”

GIA Thailand’s Gemstone Gathering is a free event that begins at 6 p.m. on Jan. 19 in Crowne Room 1-3 on the 21st floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly known as the Pan Pacific), Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Due to limited seating, please RSVP by Jan. 18 to attend. To RSVP, contact the GIA Laboratory Bangkok at 02 632 4090; or call the GIA Thailand Campus on 02 237-9575; www.giathai.net; or visit www.giathailand.com.