Gems of Northern Madagascar Video with GIA Field Gemology
April 26, 2024
Madagascar is one of the great wonders of our planet. Wim Vertriest, Manager of Field Gemology at GIA, takes us on a journey back in time to understand how the island acquired its incredible gemstone diversity for which it is known today. He shares highlights from a recent field gemology expedition to two remote mines in Northern Madagascar: one a demantoid mine and the other, a sapphire mine.
Wim Vertriest is Manager of Field Gemology for GIA, Bangkok. Since joining GIA’s Field Gemology Department in 2015, Wim has visited gemstone mining areas in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where he was responsible for sample collection. He now oversees the Field Gemology Department and curates GIA’s colored stone research collection in Bangkok, Thailand.
