Ask Us Anything About Gem Sourcing

In the closing episode of this year’s sponsored series from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), we are opening the floor to our Instagram Live community to ask guest Wim Vertriest anything they want to know about sourcing colored gemstones.

As GIA manager in Bangkok, Vertriest is ideally placed to share his rich firsthand experience on the subject. In the previous installments of the “Exploring Field Gemology with GIA” series, which are available on our Instagram account and YouTube channel, he has covered topics including mining, trading and the supply chain.

The upcoming discussion is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what occurs at the source and how culture, history, place and people play major roles in the gem’s story. Challenging questions welcome!

Vertriest joined the Thailand GIA laboratory in 2015 and has participated in the organization’s field expeditions on different continents, focusing on ruby-, sapphire- and emerald-mining areas. These trips involve collecting samples for GIA research and documenting the local situation. In his role as manager, Vertriest oversees the field gemology department and is in charge of the GIA colored-stone research collection in Bangkok. He has authored and coauthored articles on new gemstone localities, updates on existing mining areas, in-depth gemological studies, and treatment experiments.

“Exploring Field Gemology with GIA — Episode 5” will take place on Monday, November 18, at 1 p.m. EST. Join us on the Instagram accounts @rapaportjewelrypro and @giagrams to watch the Live interview.

This Instagram Live is brought to you by GIA, which has been protecting consumers and supporting the global gem and jewelry trade since 1931 through research, education, and laboratory services.