Carlsbad, Calif., – Feb. 22, 2008 – GIA Thailand, the Gemological Institute of America’s laboratory in Bangkok, is now offering the Institute’s Diamond Dossier ® grading services to clients in the region, effective immediately.

Tom Moses, senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research, said “We now have a fully trained laboratory staff on-site in Bangkok.  With these highly skilled people, GIA Thailand today performs complete colored stone and pearl services, and we’ve now expanding those offerings to include diamond grading.  We aim to provide Thailand and the region with the full range of GIA client services while at the same time ensuring reasonable turn-around times.”

“GIA Thailand will initially provide the GIA Diamond Dossier ® services that cover diamonds ranging from 0.15 carats up to 1.99 carats.  In addition, the GIA laboratory in Bangkok is accepting diamonds for all other services that will be dealt with on an expedited basis at one of the U.S. offices.”

Ken Scarratt, managing director for South East Asia and director for GIA Thailand Laboratory, said, “Additional good news for our Regional clients is they can now send goods for identification or grading by using the Brinks Bonded Facility in Thailand.  All clients have to do is submit their stones to Brinks in their home Country and Brinks Thailand will handle importation into Bond.  In this way GIA can service every country in the region.”

Scarratt also said that GIA Thailand Laboratory has teamed up with GIA Thailand Education to share a booth at the 41st Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair that runs from February 27th to March 2nd 2008.   According to Scarratt, the booth’s focus will be on diamonds, though all other services will be covered as well.