GIA to host GemFest at International Jewellery Tokyo show

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is organising a GemFest seminar during the International Jewellery Tokyo show. Taking this opportunity, GIA will host its experts - Thomas M. Moses, chief laboratory and research officer for GIA who will present a laboratory update on GIA’s services and research; Ahmadjan Abduriyim, GIA researcher will discuss corundum mining activities in South East Asia.

The seminar is slated for January 24.

Moses is also GIA’s executive vice president. He has been part of the Institute’s groundbreaking gem identification and research effort. He also oversees all GIA laboratory and research operations and activities. His beginnings at GIA were at the GIA laboratory in Santa Monica, Calif. in 1977. He has held senior positions of vice president of identification services and research through the years. In November 2013 he was appointed to the GIA Board of Governors and as executive vice president and chief laboratory and research officer. “Japan is an important market for the gem and jewellery industry. This free educational event will offer the audience an update on developments in the laboratory and research,” he said.

Abduriyim, GIA’s senior research scientist and manager of Colored Stone Services, will share a video and discuss corundum mining in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. “Mining observation and feedback from the region can help GIA improve ruby and sapphire origin determination for the global gem trade,” he said. Abduriyim received his doctorate in mineralogy at Kyoto University in Japan. He has authored numerous gemological articles. His articles have been published in major gemological periodicals such as GIA’s award-winning quarterly scientific journal Gems & Gemology.