Press Release

An Introduction to GIA in Yangon, Myanmar

Institute provides gem and jewelry information to the public, May 31

BANGKOK – May 28, 2014 – Representatives from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in Thailand will host a meet-and-greet in Yangon, Myanmar on May 31 to introduce the public to the Institute’s gem and jewelry education programs and laboratory services. The networking and informational event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will include exclusive seminars, a special education giveaway and more.

An 83-year old public-benefit organization dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gem and jewelry purchases, GIA is globally recognized for its education, research discoveries and laboratory services. The event will include a “lucky draw” for a GIA Diamond Essentials online course, screenings for How to Choose a Diamond and Pearls at GIA, a buffet lunch and an information booth for GIA education and lab services. Presentations scheduled:

* Claudia D’Andrea, GIA’s director of Education in Bangkok, will give an introduction to the “Multifaceted GIA”
* Pairach Nalinthrangkurn, GIA’s operations manager for the laboratory in Bangkok, will discuss the GIA DiamondCheck™, GIA’s new device that accurately identifies colorless natural, untreated diamonds in the D-to-N range and refers diamonds that are potentially synthetic or treated for further examination
* Nicholas Sturman, GIA’s senior manager of Pearl Identification, will present on “The Colorful World of Pearls and their Mollusks”

The “Introduction to GIA” event begins at 9:30 a.m. on May 31 in the “Konbaung & Tagaung Rooms” on level 3 of the Sule Shangri-La Yangon (formerly the Traders Hotel) in Yangon, Myanmar.

For more information about GIA, visit www.giathai.net.

About GIA

An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight in the early 1950s and in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism.