ICA Congress Keeps Focus on Practical
By Morgan Beard · Editor-in-Chief

JAIPUR — The 2003 International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) Congress, held January 2-9 in Jaipur, India, addressed topics ranging from gemstone marketing to beryllium-diffused corundum, keeping its collective eye on workable solutions.

One of the biggest areas that members agreed needed to be expanded is gemstone promotion. While in the past there was some disagreement on whether that promotion should target trade or end consumer, the consensus at this congress was that the end consumer is key. While funds to do so are limited, members proposed a number of promotional ideas. For instance, members in gem-producing countries are organizing tours of gem mines that would be attended by trade and consumer press to romance the locales where gems are found. Delegates also suggested using the Web to promote ICA itself as a source of information about gemstones and help allay consumer fears about buying gemstones. The ICA board is also working to organize ProfitICA, a Hong Kong-based, for-profit company that would create products relating to the Book of Life, a gemstone sculpture based on themes of DNA and genetic coding. The company will create smaller versions of the sculpture that will be sold as collector's items as well as low-end and high-end lines of jewelry based on the sculpture.

A presentation on beryllium-diffused corundum by Shane McClure, director of West coast identification services at the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory, gave members an update on current research into identifying gems that have been treated using the technique. Following the update was a panel discussion that included representatives from many sectors of the international community — geologists and trade members from the United States and Europe, and wholesalers from Thailand and Japan. Speaking on the panel, Thai gem dealer Vichian Veerasaksri defended the gem heaters of Chanthaburi, Thailand, who developed the process, saying that the product was not introduced with intent to defraud, and that when labs initially certified the process simply as heating, they assumed that it was safe to sell it that way. McClure countered that sending a gemstone through a laboratory without disclosing that it had been treated by a new process was not a valid test of how it should be disclosed, and would only lead to problems down the road as the nature of the new treatment was discovered. While many dealers expressed anger and dismay at the way that beryllium diffused corundum had been introduced, others tried to keep the tone positive, focusing on ways to bring the international community into harmony on disclosure and the way the gem was sold.

In addition, members heard seminars on gem deposits in India and surrounding countries as well as how-to lectures on digital gem photography and Web site design.

The membership elected a new board of directors to guide the association for the next two years, to be headed by gem wholesaler Joe Menzie of Joseph Menzie Inc. in New York City.

The next ICA congress will be held in 2005 in a location to be determined.

For a complete report on the 2003 ICA congress, see the March/April issue of Colored Stone.

Posted: January 10, 2003