GIA will mark its 75^th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee in 2006 with a collection of one-carat loose proprietary and branded diamond cuts. This special collection is being created to inspire public interest in the wide variety of diamonds and diamond cuts available. The drive to secure donations to the campaign will be chaired by Glenn Rothman, CEO of Hearts On Fire.

Several of GIA’s League of Honor and Board of Governors members have already committed diamonds to the collection and have agreed to serve as vice chairs. They include Lowell and Sheldon Kwiat of Kwiat Inc.; Leo Schachter, Eric Austein, and Elliot Tannenbaum of Leo Schachter & Co. Inc.; Marvin Samuels of Premier Gem Corp.; Dilip Mehta of Rosy Blue N.V.; Toros Z. and Toros Kejejian of Tycoon Cut Diamonds; Saul Goldberg of William Goldberg Diamond Corp.; and Mary Forté of Zale Corp.

Rothman has also pledged two of his branded diamonds, a Hearts On Fire® and a Dream® cut. The first 75 diamonds donated to the collection will premiere in conjunction with the Institute’s 4th International Gemological Symposium August 27–29, 2006, and later will be displayed at GIA locations worldwide and made available for loan to various museums.

“GIA provides the industry with leadership from a noncompetitive environment, as well as education for the trade,” Rothman said. “We would like the entire industry to participate to showcase their innovations. What better place to highlight your creativity in diamond cutting than through GIA’s 75^th Anniversary Collection?”

Patricia Syvrud, GIA director of In-Kind Gifts, said the collection also complements the Institute’s decades-long diamond cut research, which has shown that there is more than one way to cut a beautiful diamond.

“By celebrating GIA’s Diamond Jubilee Anniversary through this special collection, we hope to stimulate a high interest in diamonds and diamond cuts,” Syvrud said. “This collection will be a virtual archive of the changes in cut in the diamond industry, which will be of interest for generations of gemologists and jewelry lovers to come."

"There are a growing number of branded and proprietary cut diamonds in the market, and we welcome all diamond manufacturers and marketers to participate in this important effort.”

To make a contribution to GIA’s 75^th Anniversary Collection, contact Syvrud at 760-603-4432.

Feb. 14, 2005