GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is organising a free GemFest seminar in Tokyo, Japan. The event will host seminars on varied topics related to gems, their varieties, identification, services and latest updates at GIA. The event will be the fourth GIA GemFest in the country and is slated on July 11.

One of the presentations will be delivered by Dino De Ghionno, GIA laboratory manager discussing gem identification challenges and offering a laboratory update. He will highlight stones of gemological interest submitted to the laboratory, new gem materials and treatments, gemological updates. Topics will range from black opaque stones and change-of-color amber to diffusion-treated corundum.

Dr. Ahmadjan Abduriyim, GIA’s senior research scientist and senior manager of colored stone services in Tokyo, will present identification services at GIA’s Tokyo gem identification and grading laboratory, discuss recently introduced colored stone services – including identification reports and origin determinations – offered at the Tokyo lab.

GIA recently introduced new services at its laboratories in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Carlsbad and New York on June 30, which include red spinel origin services, ruby and sapphire inscription services for faceted stones weighing 0.50 carats or more, the Portrait Report and the Notable Letter.

De Ghionno, beginning a career at GIA, today has over 35 years of experience specializing in the research and identification of a wide range of gem materials, colored diamonds and related treatments. He has co-authored several articles in scientific and gemological journals, and lectured in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Abduriyim holds a doctorate in mineralogy and has authored numerous gemological articles.