The Steinmetz Sunrise, a cushion-cut 100.67-carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond, is set to sparkle along with nearly 1,000 other gems, jewelry and sculptures at GIA Symposium 2011: Advancing the Science and Business of Gems.

The gems on display will be just one facet of the international gem and jewelry conference, which will be held May 29-30 at GIA (Gemological Institute of America) world headquarters in Carlsbad. The event also commemorates the 80th anniversary of GIA.

"The Steinmetz Sunrise diamond gives Symposium attendees a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of an extraordinarily large, high-quality gemstone," said Kathryn Kimmel, GIA vice president and chief marketing officer. The Sunrise will be on display for three days only, but all the other pieces will be exhibited through the fall.

The exhibit will also feature a 111-carat Burmese star sapphire courtesy of Symposium poster presenter Benjamin Zucker.

The award-winning Vega jewelry set by Robert Wan – a Tahitian cultured pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings – will also be on view. The set is made up of 111 Tahitian cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds mounted in 18K white gold. The center of the necklace features five diamonds that fluoresce under ultraviolet light to mimic the Lyra constellation, whose principal star is Vega.

For more information on GIA Symposium 2011 visit the Symposium website or email symposium2011@gia.edu.