Kenneth Scarratt, one of the industry’s most distinguished gemologists and researchers, has been named director of a new research facility GIA plans to open in Bangkok later this year.

According to GIA Gem Laboratory CEO Thomas C. Yonelunas, Scarratt will be charged with establishing the research facility in Bangkok to focus on the identification of current and new treatments of colored stones, along with the characterization of gem materials from existing and new gem sources. The GIA facility in Thailand will operate strictly to support the Institute’s research activities; it will not provide laboratory services or issue GIA laboratory reports of any kind.

“An essential element of GIA’s mission is to support the colored stone industry,” said Yonelunas. “The emergence of new treatments and the resulting need for advanced identification technology have increased the demands on our researchers to identify those treatments and publish the critical results from their findings, so that GIA can further its work in ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry. The facility that Ken Scarratt will direct in Bangkok will substantially help maintain the pace of our efforts in the face of new treatments and technology that could threaten public confidence if not detected and disclosed.”

Yonelunas added, “Ken is an internationally respected and highly accomplished gemologist who has worked closely with GIA’s research staff on a number of significant projects over the years. He has made important contributions to the field, and we are proud that he will now be part of our team, collaborating fully with GIA’s esteemed researchers in Carlsbad, New York, Antwerp, and Geneva.”

Scarratt recently left his position as laboratory director of the American Gem Trade Association’s (AGTA) Gem Testing Center (GTC) in New York, where he had been since 1998. In a career that spans more than 30 years, he has also served as director of Laboratory Services, Education, and Research for The Asian Institute of Gemological Services (Bangkok) and chief executive and laboratory director of The Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain.

He has authored or co-authored articles in many gemological journals worldwide, and has co-authored two books: The Crown Jewels and The Pearl & the Dragon. Topics of his other publications include the causes of color in diamonds; diamond synthetics and treatments; synthetic and treated colored stones; rare gemstones; and gemstone origins. Scarratt is one of the world’s leading authorities on natural and cultured pearls, both saltwater and freshwater, as well as the rare Melo “pearl.” In addition, he has lectured on gemological topics in the U.S. and throughout Europe and Asia.

“I’ve always had the greatest respect for GIA and its laboratory,” said Scarratt. “I've greatly enjoyed working with the superb team of outstanding researchers at GIA over the years on many important projects, and I’m thrilled to be joining that team to tackle the current and future challenges in gem identification and treatments.”

April 14, 2005