GIA opens 5th laboratory

A ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurated the 5th Gemological Institute of America (GIA) laboratory on September 15 at Queens Road in Hong Kong. The opening ceremony was graced by Lawrence Ma, the founding chairman of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong; Gregory So, undersecretary of Commerce and Economic Development for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr. Cheng Yu Tung, Chairman, New World Group; Ephraim Zion, managing director of Dehres Ltd., and GIA board member; Thomas Moses, senior vice president of GIA Laboratory and Research; Wai Man Cheng, director of the Hong Kong Laboratory; and Kathryn Kimmel, vice president and chief Marketing officer for GIA. The gathering saw over 125 industry leaders and media members.

“The Hong Kong trade is so vibrant, it’s essential to be here,” said Donna Baker, GIA president and CEO, as she officially opened the lab. The state-of-the-art lab, which will offer on-site services for GIA Diamond Grading Reports and Diamond Dossiers, laser inscription and diamond sealing services.

Baker remarked “Hong Kong is home to a thriving and sophisticated gem and jewelry industry. Hundreds of students have successfully completed their Graduate Gemologist education programs with us. We believe our lab will make it even more convenient for those professionals to access our services.”

The GIA has operated a diamond and gemstone take-in facility in Hong Kong for four years and a school for nearly 20.

So said Hong Kong was a natural step for GIA because the city has all of the resources to promote growth -- it is strategically located in one of the world’s most vibrant consumer markets. Baker also said that GIA is “committed to providing Asian jewelry professionals with the latest gemological research, education and laboratory services.”