The focus of GIA (Gemological Institute of America) monthly Gemstone Gathering being held on August 31, 2011 will be on Australia’s Natural South Sea Pearls. This introduction will be delivered by Kenneth Scarratt, GIA’s managing director of South East Asia and director of the GIA Laboratory in Bangkok. He is a leading authority on natural pearls, both saltwater and freshwater. Scarratt’s presentation will include an overview of these popular, organic gems, a review of the history of Australian pearling and a recent expedition to an 80-mile beach where wild shell is still fished.

Natural pearls have been fished in the waters off the west and northwestern coasts of Australia for more than 100 years. The pearls, from Pinctada maxima, are found at a variety of depths and extraordinary gems have been discovered over the years.

Scarratt holds in depth knowledge identification of a broad range of gem materials and detection of treatments. His expertise on saltwater and freshwater natural pearls includes the rare Melo pearl. Besides his other popular articles in many gemological journals worldwide, he has co-authored two books: “The Crown Jewels” and “The Pearl & the Dragon.”

GIA Thailand’s Gemstone Gathering is slated at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bangkok.