A Year in the Field through the Lens of a Gemologist
GIA’s next Gemstone Gathering is Oct. 29 in Bangkok
BANGKOK – Oct. 22, 2014 – Field gemology – the collection of research from gem localities across the globe – is a vital component of GIA’s ongoing gemological research. Vincent Pardieu, GIA’s senior manager of field gemology in Bangkok, will share exclusive video footage and discuss his most recent expeditions to remote parts of the world during GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) next Gemstone Gathering in Bangkok on Oct. 29.Over the course of the past year, Pardieu, along with teams of experts, has journeyed to Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Vietnam and Zambia to conduct field research and collect reference samples for the GIA laboratory, capturing video footage along the way. Pardieu’s presentation will highlight the unique challenges and experiences of a field researcher through short films and personal anecdotes.
Pardieu specializes in the origin determination of gemstones and has visited numerous gem-producing areas in South East Asia, Central Asia and East Africa, particularly the Ilakaka–Sakaraha sapphire deposits of southern Madagascar. He has spent his career in research leadership positions with gemological laboratories around the world, including in Thailand and Switzerland. His research and expertise have been the catalyst for numerous articles in GIA’s Gems & Gemology and various trade publications.
GIA’s Gemstone Gathering, a free event, begins at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 in the “Crowne Room 1-3” on the 21st floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Lumpini Park in Bangkok.
