An out-of-this world photo experience, starship-like entryway and starry lights set the stage for the 2017 “Party at the GIA Gem Mine: Cosmic Blast,” but the pure joy and comaraderie as alumni greeted one another was the highlight of the annual dinner-dance and auctions. More than 350 guests from 15 countries (the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Columbia, China, Japan, Germany, Myanmar, Malta, Italy, South Africa, England, Thailand, India and more) attended the most fun party in Tucson.
The event is an opportunity to connect with former classmates, meet new industry friends and perhaps establish a new business relationship.
This year, it was also an opportunity to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the GIA Alumni Association that Richard T. Liddicoat and Robert Earnest established in 1982. Liddicoat and Earnest recognized the benefit of organizing GIA graduates around the world to encourage and promote the shared interests, education, news and business networks that support integrity and knowledge in the gem and jewelry industry. Today, the organization is more than 116,000 members strong with 70 chapters around the world.
Beyond catching up with old friends, this alumni event is an opportunity to support the Alumni Endowment Fund. This year’s event raised more than $25,000 from event tickets and the auctions. Seventy items (including loose gemstones and pearls, designer jewelry, mineral specimens, equipment, books and more) were available to bid on. Joseph DuMouchelle and Lindy Adducci, of DuMouchelle Auctions, volunteered their professional services – for the 16th year – to run the exciting live auction.
“A special thank you to all our auction contributors, supporters, event volunteers and attendees,” said Kate Donovan, GIA manager of global alumni relations. “We look forward to seeing you all next year − and we’re already accepting auction donations!”
Alumni Leadership Breakfast
GIA Alumni Association chapter leaders and senior GIA executives also gathered in Tucson for a leadership forum to discuss chapter ideas, challenges, policy and plans. This annual event makes it possible for attendees to share and coordinate ideas and enhance relationships between chapters for the overall benefit of the alumni association.
More than 30 alumni leaders from 22 chapters (the U.S., Canada and Germany) attended along with GIA executives Susan Jacques, president and CEO; Bev Hori, senior vice president of education and chief learning officer; Susan Schindelar, vice president of global marketing; Stephen Morisseau, director of corporate communications; and Danae Brooker, director of branding.
Kate Donovan kicked off the discussion by sharing the variety of GIA materials and programs available to alumni chapter leaders to share at meetings, including the GemKids website, Retailer Support Program, Continuing Education Recognition Program and scholarship information.
Starla Turner, a longtime alumni leadership council member and past-president of CA – Golden Gate chapter, kicked off a chapter-to-chapter peer discussion that included tips on the best ways to run chapter events, find meeting topic ideas and engage more alumni with local chapters.
GIA Displays
The GIA museum and the Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information Center had exhibits during the gem shows.
Synthetic Diamonds at AGTA
Synthetic diamonds grown by the HPHT and CVD methods have become more prevalent in the jewelry trade. The Institute – which can identify all known types of synthetic diamonds – displayed a variety of samples including large colorless and colored rough HPHT, large colorless and colored faceted HPHT, rough CVD, faceted CVD, rough HPHT melee, and faceted HPHT melee diamonds side-by-side with natural diamonds at its booth on the Galleria level.
The Fersman Catalog at TGMS
The GIA library’s copy of Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones by A.E. Fersman is one of the few surviving examples of a Bolshevik-era catalog of royal jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. The library featured a special display at TGMS dedicated to the catalog, including an historical figure of Catherine the Great by George Stuart (on loan from the Ventura County Museum of Art) and replicas of notable diamonds, the Orlov and the Shah.
Highlights of the Hauser Collection at TGMS
GIA’s museum recently acquired a collection of ornamental minerals of exceptional size and quality, made possible through a generous donation by the family of Joel and Barbara Hauser. Many of the pieces are from localities with restricted access or that are no longer producing. Attendees of TGMS had the opportunity to view 13 of the finest pieces from the Hauser collection as part of a special exhibit.
Amanda J. Luke is a senior communications manager at GIA. She is the editor of the GIA Insider and Alum Connect and was the editor of The Loupe magazine.
An out-of-this world photo experience, starship-like entryway and starry lights set the stage for the 2017 “Party at the GIA Gem Mine: Cosmic Blast,” but the pure joy and comaraderie as alumni greeted one another was the highlight of the annual dinner-dance and auctions. More than 350 guests from 15 countries (the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Columbia, China, Japan, Germany, Myanmar, Malta, Italy, South Africa, England, Thailand, India and more) attended the most fun party in Tucson.
The event is an opportunity to connect with former classmates, meet new industry friends and perhaps establish a new business relationship.
This year, it was also an opportunity to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the GIA Alumni Association that Richard T. Liddicoat and Robert Earnest established in 1982. Liddicoat and Earnest recognized the benefit of organizing GIA graduates around the world to encourage and promote the shared interests, education, news and business networks that support integrity and knowledge in the gem and jewelry industry. Today, the organization is more than 116,000 members strong with 70 chapters around the world.
Beyond catching up with old friends, this alumni event is an opportunity to support the Alumni Endowment Fund. This year’s event raised more than $25,000 from event tickets and the auctions. Seventy items (including loose gemstones and pearls, designer jewelry, mineral specimens, equipment, books and more) were available to bid on. Joseph DuMouchelle and Lindy Adducci, of DuMouchelle Auctions, volunteered their professional services – for the 16th year – to run the exciting live auction.
“A special thank you to all our auction contributors, supporters, event volunteers and attendees,” said Kate Donovan, GIA manager of global alumni relations. “We look forward to seeing you all next year − and we’re already accepting auction donations!”
Alumni Leadership Breakfast
GIA Alumni Association chapter leaders and senior GIA executives also gathered in Tucson for a leadership forum to discuss chapter ideas, challenges, policy and plans. This annual event makes it possible for attendees to share and coordinate ideas and enhance relationships between chapters for the overall benefit of the alumni association.
More than 30 alumni leaders from 22 chapters (the U.S., Canada and Germany) attended along with GIA executives Susan Jacques, president and CEO; Bev Hori, senior vice president of education and chief learning officer; Susan Schindelar, vice president of global marketing; Stephen Morisseau, director of corporate communications; and Danae Brooker, director of branding.
Kate Donovan kicked off the discussion by sharing the variety of GIA materials and programs available to alumni chapter leaders to share at meetings, including the GemKids website, Retailer Support Program, Continuing Education Recognition Program and scholarship information.
Starla Turner, a longtime alumni leadership council member and past-president of CA – Golden Gate chapter, kicked off a chapter-to-chapter peer discussion that included tips on the best ways to run chapter events, find meeting topic ideas and engage more alumni with local chapters.
GIA Displays
The GIA museum and the Richard T. Liddicoat Library and Information Center had exhibits during the gem shows.
Synthetic Diamonds at AGTA
Synthetic diamonds grown by the HPHT and CVD methods have become more prevalent in the jewelry trade. The Institute – which can identify all known types of synthetic diamonds – displayed a variety of samples including large colorless and colored rough HPHT, large colorless and colored faceted HPHT, rough CVD, faceted CVD, rough HPHT melee, and faceted HPHT melee diamonds side-by-side with natural diamonds at its booth on the Galleria level.
The Fersman Catalog at TGMS
The GIA library’s copy of Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones by A.E. Fersman is one of the few surviving examples of a Bolshevik-era catalog of royal jewels seized during the Russian Revolution. The library featured a special display at TGMS dedicated to the catalog, including an historical figure of Catherine the Great by George Stuart (on loan from the Ventura County Museum of Art) and replicas of notable diamonds, the Orlov and the Shah.
Highlights of the Hauser Collection at TGMS
GIA’s museum recently acquired a collection of ornamental minerals of exceptional size and quality, made possible through a generous donation by the family of Joel and Barbara Hauser. Many of the pieces are from localities with restricted access or that are no longer producing. Attendees of TGMS had the opportunity to view 13 of the finest pieces from the Hauser collection as part of a special exhibit.
Amanda J. Luke is a senior communications manager at GIA. She is the editor of the GIA Insider and Alum Connect and was the editor of The Loupe magazine.
