PRESS RELEASE

Leading Gem Expert to Speak at Malaysia Show

Leading Gem Expert to Speak at Malaysia Show
© GIA
Dr. Laurent Massi, GIA’s education director in Thailand.

GIA at the Malaysia International Jewellery Fair, July 19-22

CARLSBAD, Calif. – July 16, 2012 – Attendees at this year’s Malaysia International Jewellery Fair will have the opportunity to hear about phenomenal gemstones from Dr. Laurent Massi, GIA’s education director in Thailand, on July 21. Massi will reveal different effects that add to a gemstone’s allure during his presentation on “Phenomenal Gemstone Phenomena.” Representatives from GIA in Thailand will also be on hand throughout the show at booth BA04 to answer any questions about the Institute’s laboratory and education programs.

Massi, who holds a Ph.D. from Nantes University’s Department of Physics in France and is a GIA Graduate Gemologist, will focus on four broad categories of optical and structural effects that result in gemstone phenomena:

• Color-change effects: primarily a result of light, temperature or thickness
• Chatoyant effects: a result of inclusions and the interaction of light
• Asterism: a result of inclusions and the interaction of light
• Other optical effects: such as iridescence, adularescence and aventurescence

“Gemstones can be extremely fascinating when placed under different conditions,” said Massi. “For example, alexandrite has the ability to change color according to the type of light that illuminates it, and a chameleon diamond can reversibly turn from green to orange or yellow when placed in light or after gentle heating.”

The free presentation will be held on July 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the stage area of Hall 4, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. At 4:15 p.m., Massi will also give a free half hour lecture on corundum treatments to GIA’s Malaysia Alumni Chapter.

Representatives from GIA in Thailand will be at booth BA04, July 19-22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to meet with prospective students and other interested parties. GIA is the global leader in gemological education and has 11 campuses around the world in addition to its lauded eLearning program. GIA laboratories are located in Bangkok, Carlsbad, Gaborone, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Mumbai and New York.

For more details about GIA in Thailand, visit www.giathai.net, or contact us.

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world. Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism.