Special agents and detectives from international law enforcement agencies
gathered at the Gemological Institute of America’s Carlsbad campus recently for a two-week crash
course in gemology that was specifically requested by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.

Law officers from Brazil,
Colombia, Belgium, India,
Thailand, the UK and the UAE joined detectives from the New York and Los Angeles
police departments and FBI specials agents from New York,
Los Angeles, Miami
and Washington, D.C. to get a first-hand look at how
gemological information can help them solve crimes.

The group was exposed to a broad range of gemstone topics, including how to
use gemological tools (loupes, tweezers, microscopes); the Four Cs of diamonds
and what to look for in clarity, cut and color; synthetics, imitations and
color treatments; the diamond industry and the Kimberley Process; field
identification of colored stones; and how to read GIA grading reports.

For more information about GIA visit www.gia.edu.

JCK