Fall 2018 G&G: Proceedings from the 2018 International Gemological Symposium

Jennifer-Lynn Archuleta

December 4, 2018

In celebration of Richard T. Liddicoat’s centennial birthday, GIA held its sixth International Gemological Symposium October 7–9, 2018, in Carlsbad, California. Nearly 800 attendees from 36 countries convened to exchange groundbreaking gemological research and to examine case studies taught by professors from the Harvard Business School. The Fall 2018 issue of G&G is dedicated to the proceedings of the Symposium. Featured are 37 speaker abstracts and 68 poster abstracts from the research track’s seven themes: Colored Stones and Pearls, Diamond Geology, Diamond Identification, Gem Characterization, Gem Localities, General Gemology and Jewelry, and New Technologies and Techniques.

In Colored Stones and Pearls, keynote presenter Barbara Dutrow considered tourmaline’s role as a geologic timekeeper, while Wuyi Wang began Diamond Identification with the color origin and type Ib designation of canary yellow diamonds. The Diamond Geology session opened with Graham Pearson’s discussion of “unconventional” formation settings, while Evan Smith headlined Gem Characterization by examining the genesis of natural type IIa and IIb diamonds. Lee Groat’s keynote presentation in Gem Localities related the importance of “fingerprinting” chemical analysis to origin determination. In General Gemology and Jewelry, Saleem Ali explored the challenges and emerging opportunities—including education, beneficiation, and environmental remediation—in creating a sustainable mine-to-market colored gemstone supply chain. In New Technologies and Techniques, keynote speaker Daniel Twitchen reviewed advances in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process used to create laboratory-grown diamonds.

The poster presentations, on display and available for viewing by attendees for all three days, are also captured in this issue of G&G.

In the closing session, the Futurescape Forum offered an illuminating forecast from six influential leaders in the gem and jewelry industry. The panelists discussed sourcing and production, the online vs. brick-and-mortar store retail experience (including Internet vs. in-person auctions), the impact of laboratory-grown material on the diamond market, and adapting to a millennial workforce.

The Fall 2018 issue also contains a photo montage with scenes captured during the Symposium, from the Music Paradigm opening session to the farewell reception.