Gemstone Gathering
The 10th Gemstone Gathering took place on February 25, 2008
about "Inside GIA Research : Current topics on diamonds and colored stones"
By Mr. Andy Hsitien Shen, Ph.D. and Mr. Christopher M. Breeding
(Senior research scientists at GIA Laboratory in New York, California)
On the 25th of February 2008 GIA Laboratory Bangkok and GIA Thailand Education departments hosted its 10th GIA Gemstone Gathering at the GIA Thailand Campus. The presentation for the evening was given by two guest speakers from GIA’s Laboratory in New York, and was the first time that two speakers were invited for a Gemstone Gathering.
The two speakers were Dr. Andy Hsitien Shen and Dr. Christopher M. Breeding both Senior Researchers with the GIA Laboratory.
The topic for the evening’s presentation was entitled “Inside GIA Research: Current topics on diamonds and colored stones”.
Dr. Shen’s presentation gave the 63 attendees an insight in to some of the most important and current advanced instruments that are being used for corundum treatment identification and research projects. Shen covered many applications of the various analytical tools found at the GIA Research Laboratory in Bangkok, Dr. Shen’s main focus was on Laser-Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and its uses in current colored stone treatment detection issues.
Dr. Mike Breeding changed the direction of focus for the evening presentation and took attends into the challenging world of the detection of diamond treatments and synthetics. Dr. Breeding explained the importance of certain invaluable pieces of advanced testing equipment when separating natural, treated and synthetic diamonds with special emphasis on geochemical and spectroscopic analysis to determine a diamonds origin of color. A refresher on the identification of these types of diamonds using standard identification techniques was also given at the end of his presentation for the keen gemologists in the audience.
Many GIA Thailand Alumni and members of the trade commented after Andy and Mike’s presentation at how clear, concise and easily understood they made their presentations which can sometimes be a difficult subject to address considering the technical nature of many aspects of their presentation.
GIA Thailand’s educational staff was extremely happy to see the many GIA Thailand Graduates who were visiting Bangkok for the 41st Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair attend the Gathering.
GIA Thailand Education & GIA Laboratory Bangkok look forward to seeing you next month in March for the next GIA Gemstone Gathering. Please keep an eye on www.giathailand.com & www.giathai.net for more details, dates and topics for up coming Gatherings and GIA events.
by GIA Thailand Campus and GIA Research Thailand
