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Friday, May 12, 2000
Volume 2, Issue 10
A bi-weekly electronic bulletin from the Gemological Institute of America – the world's foremost authority in gemology.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In this issue:
May 12, 2000
Thoughts from the President: GIA’s Commencement 2000
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Thoughts from the President: GIA's Commencement 2000
We all have defining moments in our lives, and it’s not surprising many involve education. Who can forget those magic moments of passing critical tests after long hours in the classroom, and even more hours studying? Then it was on to diplomas, from grade school to the real prize: a college degree.
But what made those achievements truly memorable was the sharing and recognition, especially with a ceremony. We excitedly shook hands, grasped that diploma, and beamed from ear-to-ear as our classmates and families looked on. Like any college or university, we recognize the hard work and achievement of GIA graduates. We’ve certainly, and thankfully, come a long way from the time when a graduate simply walked into Bob Ernest’s office and picked up a diploma. Today, we hold a ceremony for resident-student graduates and their families and friends.
This year though, we’ll do something very special, and even historic. We’re calling it Commencement 2000, the first formal worldwide graduation ceremony in GIA’s history. It will be held on June 10 at our World Headquarters campus in Carlsbad. We’ll be joined by hundreds of graduates, industry leaders, and a distinguished keynote speaker, Dr. Christopher Bramlett, a Graduate Gemologist and a great educator and leader in our industry.
This special commencement exercise will be an excellent opportunity to publicly recognize GIA graduates throughout history, as well as those from this year’s class. It will be a special pleasure to honor distance education students, who have never participated in a formal GIA ceremony.
As every graduate knows, the educational experience at GIA becomes part of you. You become skilled and proficient in the wonders of gems, gemology, and jewelry manufacturing arts as you learn and study. Graduation then means a great deal, because so much goes into earning that diploma.
So I hope you’ll join me, whether here or wherever you are in the world as an industry member or supporter, in congratulating this year’s class and those thousands of GIA graduates in this truly defining moment.
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May 12, 2000
GIA’s New Web-based Tutorial: "How to Buy a Diamond"
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GIA has announced the launch of its first-ever consumer-oriented Internet tutorial, How to Buy a Diamond. Featured on the Institute’s new and updated Web site, www.gia.edu, the interactive site on the Four Cs is free of charge, and is available 24 hours a day.
The tutorial, which takes about 20-minutes to complete, is set in a virtual jewelry store. The store’s proprietress, Lucy, a GIA Graduate Gemologist (G.G.), guides her client through a wealth of information and detail on each aspect of the Four Cs. Hidden throughout the site in pop-up windows, audio clips, charts, colorful photos and illustrations is a series of five brief, interactive exercises or “Challenges.” The virtual patron is asked to rank diamonds in order of color grade, examine gems through a loupe, judge clarity grades, and make judgements about the relationship between carat weight and rarity. After successfully completing GIA’s How to Buy a Diamond, Lucy’s customers can download a special award commemorating their virtual accomplishment.
“The fun lies in uncovering the clues and information needed to successfully meet each challenge,” Kathryn Kimmel, GIA’s vice president of Marketing and Public Relations explained.
Please Note:
In order to take advantage of How to Buy a Diamond’s many interactive features, the user must have the Flash 4 plug-in installed. The first page of the site will automatically test for the plug-in and give the user an opportunity to download the free software. To access the tutorial, click on the How to Buy a Diamond button located at www.gia.edu. And enjoy!
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May 12, 2000
Gems & Gemology: Freshwater Cultured "Kasumiga" Pearls, With Akoya Cultured Pearl Nuclei
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Gem News contributing editor Dr. Henry Hanni of the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute, recently examined some attractive Japanese freshwater cultured pearls called Kasumiga after the pearl-culturing region of Lake Kasumiga, north of Tokyo. The three 40-cm-long strands consisted of approximately 40 pearls each, with diameters ranging from 9 to 13 mm. X-radiographs revealed the presence of two drill holes in each pearl at a random orientation to each other. Gems & Gemology previously reported such features in Japanese freshwater cultured pearls nearly 40 years ago (see R. Crowningshield, "Fresh-water cultured pearls," Spring 1962, pp. 259-273).
With the client's permission, half of one cultured pearl was ground away and the surface polished. The bead nucleus was covered by a very thin (0.2 mm) overgrowth of nacre, which was separated by a slight gap from a much thicker (>2 mm) layer of freshwater nacre. An energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the pearl's surface showed an abundance of manganese, thereby confirming the freshwater origin of the outer nacre layer. It appears, then, that drilled low-grade Akoya (saltwater) cultured pearls were used as bead material for these Kasumiga freshwater cultured pearls, which are said to be grown in a Hyriopsis schlegeli x Anadonta plicata hybrid mussel. The result is freshwater cultured pearls of remarkable diameter with thick nacre layers and appealing surface quality.
More information and photos of these Kasumiga cultured pearls will appear in the upcoming Summer 2000 issue of Gems & Gemology.
To reserve your copy, or to subscribe, contact the Subscriptions Manager, Debbie Ortiz [mailto:dortiz@gia.edu], or call toll-free 800-421-7250 ext. 7142. Outside the US and Canada, call 760-603-4000 ext. 7142. Visit G&G online.
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May 12, 2000
The Insider Gemologist: Part VI - Magnetism
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Synthetic diamonds are currently grown in a solution known as flux. This flux consists of liquid metals such as iron and nickel. As they grow, synthetic diamonds, like natural diamonds, often trap some of their growth environment within the crystal. These gray to black metallic inclusions, which can range in size from submicroscopic to eye-visible, are magnetic. They can react to a strong magnet even when they are too finely dispersed throughout the stone to be seen with a microscope. Therefore, any clear attraction of a diamond to a magnet proves it is synthetic.
To test for this attraction, suspend the diamond in question from a string, away from air currents. Bring a strong magnet close to, but not touching, the stone. Move the magnet from side to side. If the diamond is attracted, it will move in a parallel motion. If the diamond is not attracted, no movement will occur. Lack of a magnetic response does not prove it is a natural. The lack of response is only an indication. If a synthetic diamond contains a very small quantity of flux inclusions, it may have no response to even a strong magnet.
It is important to know that in rare instances, a natural diamond may contain inclusions that could cause the diamond to show a faint attraction to a strong magnet. Fortunately, such a diamond would undoubtedly exhibit other properties to prove it was of natural origin. (Source: G&G, Winter 1995)
Next issue: Part VII: Strain
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May 12, 2000
Career Fair 2000 in Carlsbad, CA - June 9th
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Now in its 10th year, GIA's Career Fair promises to be an even bigger and more exciting recruiting event than ever before. Job seekers will flock to GIA's World Headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, CA, on Friday, June 9, and to the Jacob Javits Center in New York on Friday, July 28, to meet with retailers, manufacturers, designers, wholesalers and e-commerce companies.
More than a job fair, Career Fair, FREE to all job seekers, is a career enhancement day designed to showcase all the jewelry industry has to offer. Between interviews, job seekers can attend special panel sessions devoted to key segments of the industry and learn the latest hiring and market trends. Or, they can benefit from personalized career counseling by industry executives. They can also have their resumes reviewed, pick up some interviewing tips, and have the opportunity to meet and mingle with the industry's top personalities.
For further information, or to register:
Job seekers should call 800-421-7250 ext. 4100 or 760-603-4100 or careerfair@gia.edu
Recruiters should contact GIA's Career Services Manager, Anna Lisa Johnston at 800-421-7250 ext.4255 or 760-603-4255 or ajohnston@gia.edu
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