Industry representatives, researchers and laboratory experts from around the world will congregate for GIA GemFest Basel 2003 on Saturday, April 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Montreal Room of the Basel Convention Center in Basel, Switzerland.

Held in conjunction with the 2003 Basel World Watch and Jewellery Show, GemFest Basel 2003 will focus on trends in colored diamonds.

The keynote speech will be presented by GIA Laboratory Projects Officer John King, a leading expert in fancy colored diamonds. He will discuss “Trends in Fancy Colored Diamonds.” With more than 20 years of experience at GIA, King has written three major articles on colored diamonds and laboratory grading procedures. He has graded many of the world’s largest and most renowned colored diamonds, including the famous Hope diamond.

Patrick Ball, director of the GIA Alumni Association, will kick off the event. Following that, GIA Director of West Coast Identification Services Shane McClure will provide a gemological update from the laboratory that will feature the latest information on the beryllium diffusion of sapphire and ruby, describe recent changes in the laser drilling of diamonds, and report on several other gemological challenges seen recently in the lab.

Alice Keller, editor-in-chief of GIA’s quarterly journal Gems & Gemology, will moderate the industry panel discussion on fancy colored diamonds. Panel members will present a current snapshot of the role such diamonds play in their respective businesses, and will discuss their relevance to the industry as a whole. Scheduled to participate in this panel are Albert Boghossian, Boghossian, S.A.; Eric Valdieu, Director of Christie’s Switzerland and head of the firm’s Swiss Jewelry Department; Michel Farah, SwissDiam Geneve S.A.; Sarah Hancock, Managing Editor, Basel Magazine; Shane McClure, GIA’s Director of West Coast Identification Services; and Nigel Jones, General Manager of Marketing, Rio Tinto Diamonds N.V.

Following the event, there will be a GIA reception for attendees.

Since GemFest Basel 2003 is a forum for cutting-edge ideas and information, GIA Alumni members who attend will receive six Carat Points.

Admission to the event is free, but space is limited. To reserve a seat, call 760-603-4204, fax 760-603-4199, or email events@gia.edu. The first 200 attendees will receive a free GIA Pink Diamonds Chart and a copy of the special Loupe supplement dedicated to the late Richard T. Liddicoat.

JCK