Attendees of the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, occurring September 15 to 21, will have the opportunity to hear from recognized gem experts during two GemFests, hosted by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which are free and open to the public. Dr. Wuyi Wang, GIA’s director of research and development, will discuss the technologies used to screen for treated and synthetic diamonds on September 16. Sudarat Saeseaw, GIA’s senior manager of colored stones in Thailand, will discuss modern analytical methods used by gemologists on September 19. The Institute will also feature diamond and colored stone lab take-in services during the show.

Screening for Treated and Synthetic Diamonds: A Review of Existing Technologies

September 16, 11 a.m. to noon at the AsiaWorld Expo, Rm 201A

Undisclosed treated and synthetic diamonds, particularly in melee sizes, are a concern for the industry. Wang will present on how GIA is addressing these concerns, as well as the current status of diamond treatments and synthetics . All GIA laboratories, with experienced staff and specialized equipment, screen all diamonds submitted for grading for treatments and synthetics. In addition, GIA developed and made available the DiamondCheck device, which can quickly and accurately differentiate natural, untreated diamonds in the D-to-N range from those that are potentially treated or synthetic.

With more than 20 years of expertise in diamond geochemistry and the treatments of diamond and other gem material, Wang holds a doctorate in geology from the University of Tsukuba in Japan and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Beijing University in China. He is widely published in gemological and geological publications, and has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Richard T. Liddicoat and American Gem Society awards, as well as the Dr. Edward J. G�belin Most Valuable Article Award from Gems & Gemology.

Update on In-house Gemological Analytical Methods of the 21st Century

September 19, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, Rm S421

Advanced analytical techniques help gemologists to identify gemstones, detect treatments and determine geographic origin. Sophisticated instrumentation such as laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry and chemical fingerprinting are important when it comes to the geographic origin determination of ruby and emerald. Saeseaw will discuss GIA’s procedures in identifying colored stones and the different types of colored stone analyses.

An expert in spectroscopy and chemical analysis, Saeseaw is able to accurately determine possible treatments, the identity of gemstones, and when possible the country of origin of certain gems. She holds a master's degree in analytical chemistry from the Mahidol University in Thailand and is a GIA graduate gemologist and fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.

GIA at the AsiaWorld Expo, Hong Kong

September 15 to 19 at Booth 3J00

Institute representatives will be at booth 3J00 from September 15 to 19 to answer questions about GIA education, instruments, laboratory services and the GIA Retailer Program. The laboratory will take in diamonds up to 9.99 carats and colored stones September 15 to 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. On September 19, the lab will take in colored stones only from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

GIA at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center

September 17 to 21 at Booth 3M059, 3M061

Institute representatives will be at booth 3M059, 3M061 from September 17 to 21 to answer questions about GIA education, instruments, laboratory services and the GIA Retailer Program. The laboratory will take in colored stones September 17 to 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on September 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.�