GIA India’s first CAD-CAM class, taught by the Institute’s Manager of Jewelry Manufacturing Arts Russ Hyder (front row, right). Photo courtesy of GIA India

India
GIA India hosted its first computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) class Oct. 15-26. The class of six students was taught by Russ Hyder, manager of Jewelry Manufacturing Arts for GIA. Another first for the India school was hosting an Accredited Jewelry Professional course at A.R. Diamond & Gem Grading in New Delhi Sept. 15-23.

Deepak Bagai
Director, GIA India

United Kingdom
GIA London was busy throughout September, participating in two trade shows in London and Portugal. The campus' booth at International Jewellery London 2007, the U.K.'s leading jewelry trade event, was well attended by students, graduates and trade members from all over the world. GIA London Director Edward Johnson and Doug Kennedy, manager of Education for the London campus, gave presentations at the Gems Seminar Theatre on colored stone grading and education, and selling gems, respectively.

Johnson also attended Portojoia, the leading trade show in Portugal in the northern city of Porto. He was invited by Rui Galopim de Carvalho, ambassador for the International Colored Gemstone Association, to give a presentation on GIA's Accredited Jewelry Professional program and the benefits of a professional education for members of the retail trade. This was GIA London's first trip to Portugal and Johnson said he hopes to build on this in 2008 and offer more services to the Portuguese jewelry trade.

Edward Johnson
Director, GIA London

A group of GIA Korea graduates and students gathered for a day of sporting events. Photo courtesy of GIA Korea

Korea
The GIA Korea alumni chapter held a sporting event at the Songchoo resorts near Seoul Oct. 13. Graduates and students gathered for the all-day event featuring soccer, volleyball, dodgeball and water balloon tossing games. Participants received gifts donated by chapter members at the end of the day.

"This sports event is the second one we've had in four years. Members enjoy this type of get together, with many outdoor activities, so we are planning to have this event twice a year," said Kyung Moon Bae, chapter president of the Korea alumni chapter.

Jung Min Lee
Manager, GIA Korea

Italy
Luna Mancini was recently named the first "GIA Florence Student of the Year 2007," a new annual award sponsored by the Associazione Italiana degli Instituti di Credito su Pegno. Mancini received her award and a check for 3,000 euros in the presence of more than 50 guests, campus Director Federico Stocco and Dott. Massimo Forni, director of the Cassa di Risparmio Bank and representative of the Italian association that sponsored the award.

"GIA is honored to receive this generous award for its students. We always try to support them in every way possible to secure a career in the gem and jewelry industry, and this award represents a positive step toward a promising and successful future," Stocco said.

Mancini earned this honor, Stocco said, because she exhibited all the qualities the award is based on while earning her Graduate Gemologist diploma last year: lesson punctuality; frequency; exam pass grades; grading and identification skills; comportment in class; and interaction with class members and instructors.

Tracy Bray
Administrator, GIA Florence

Thailand
GIA Thailand hosted its sixth Gemstone Gathering on Sept. 19 with a presentation by renowned writer and photographer, Robert Weldon, manager of Photography and Visual Communications at the Institute's headquarters in Carlsbad, California.

Weldon's presentation focused on the marketing of fair trade gemstones – a topical issue that is impacting many everyday commodities and luxury goods. He emphasized that ethics and corporate responsibility are still important issues our industry should promote in order to achieve consumer confidence and sustainable development.

Weldon also took attendees through a slideshow tour of photos from some of the world's most important gem sources in Africa, Asia and South America.

On Aug. 23, more than 50 attendees gathered for GIA Thailand's fifth Gemstone Gathering, which featured a presentation by John Koivula, chief gemologist for the Institute's West Coast Identification Services. His presentation, "Windows in the Earth: The Microworld of Gems," focused on how minute microscopic clues can help in the separation of heat-treated and natural gems.

Koivula also showed pictures from nature that gave participants a glimpse into the internal structures of gemstones.

Alex J. Ross
Manager of Special Projects
GIA Thailand