The Steinmetz Group of Companies has been named the premier sponsor of GIA’s fourth International Gemological Symposium. The renowned event, which will also commemorate the Institute's 75^th (diamond) anniversary, is expected to bring upwards of 1,500 industry leaders to San Diego, Calif.

The Steinmetz Group’s $250,000 contribution will also support the event’s “Diamond Gala” opening night celebration, an elegant evening of socializing, spectacular museum exhibits, celebrities, and top-rate entertainment at GIA’s world headquarters in Carlsbad Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006.

“There are a lot of things that appeal to us about GIA’s Symposium,” said Steinmetz CEO Nir Livnat. “I think this special gathering of the industry – not just the diamond industry, but also the colored stone, pearl, retail and manufacturing sectors – puts us in front of a wide variety of people. We usually don’t get that kind of opportunity.”

GIA’s International Gemological Symposium, previously held in 1982, 1991, and 1999, is frequently referred to as the world summit of the gem and jewelry industry. Experts from both within and outside the industry will give detailed presentations on key issues and provide forecasts and solutions for topics of concern during the event, Aug. 27–29, 2006, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

“The issues at Symposium are going to be approached in a very broad way, not just showing the good things, or just showing synthetics or treatments. I think it’s very, very important to see the whole array of issues,” Livnat said.

The Steinmetz Group has participated in a variety of high-profile events in recent years, including “The Splendor of Diamonds” exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., which featured the 59.60-ct. Steinmetz Pink and six other fancy-colored diamonds; glamorous jewelry unveilings around the world in London, Bangkok, and Mumbai; and the creation of the trophy for the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 auto race.

“We are thrilled that an organization with the stature and reputation of the Steinmetz Group of Companies will sponsor this key event,” said Linda Ellis Harmeling, vice president and chief Development officer of GIA. “This generous gift demonstrates yet again the Steinmetz Group’s strong commitment to supporting GIA’s mission.”

The Steinmetz Group of Companies is a leader in the diamond industry, with offices around the globe covering everything from mining and manufacturing to marketing and sales. Steinmetz is also involved in two luxury jewelry e-tailers, diamond.com and ashford.com, and is known for hosting and participating in exciting, stylish, and celebrated events.

It is also a member of GIA’s elite Million Dollar Roundtable, part of the Institute’s League of Honor, for its 1997 gift to support the building of the Carlsbad campus.

Livnat says Steinmetz strongly believes in supporting the Institute because of one word: trust.

“You need the trust of the consumer, and that trust is hard to achieve and even more difficult to keep,” Livnat said. “GIA, through its research and education programs, enables consumers to know what they are buying without any doubt in their minds.”

To learn more about how to become a sponsor of Symposium 2006, contact Director of Institute Relations Jane Lynch at 800-421-7250, ext 4114; outside the U.S., call 760-603-4114. 

Oct. 28, 2004