On April 14, trade industry members, the media, and other interested participants are invited to attend GIA’s “GemFest Basel” for a discussion of “Sorting It All Out: GIA’s Pearl Report and Industry Opportunities.”

“GemFest Basel offers the pearl industry the opportunity to discuss the structure and content of the new GIA pearl report with more detail than has been shared previously,” said Tom Moses, senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research. “This report comes with more descriptions of pearl attributes than ever before, reflecting both the tremendous growth in the pearl industry and the industry’s greater input into the report itself.”

Moses added, “This event features a panel of some of the world’s most influential pearl industry specialists who will add their views of the state of the pearl industry and voice their thoughts on pearl reports in general.”

The event will begin with a presentation by Ken Scarratt, director, GIA Research, Thailand, who will offer details into the Institute’s updated pearl report. 

Joining Scarratt on the panel will be Shigeru Akamatsu, senior manager, Sales Division, K. Mikimoto & Co. Ltd.; Jacques Branellec, managing director, Jewelmer Intl. Corp.; Martin Coeroli, general manager, Perles de Tahiti; and Nicholas Paspaley AC, executive chairman, Paspaley Pearls Group of Companies.

The event will be held at the Hall Montreal, Basel Convention Center, on Saturday, April 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. GIA asks that attendees let the Institute know they intend to participate by sending an e-mail by April 5 to events@gia.edu.

A reception and GIA Alumni reunion will follow GemFest. 

Admission to GemFest Basel is free, but space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. GIA Alumni who attend will receive six Carat Points.

In addition, the new GIA Collection poster for 2007 will be given out to GemFest Basel attendees while poster supplies last. The poster features the 2002 AGTA Spectrum Award-winning ring, “Neptune’s Birth,” which is fashioned from natural conch shell, white Akoya cultured pearls and pink diamonds.

JCK