An exploration of the places that colored gemstones come from and the manner in which these same gems are marketed by the trade.
Heaven Below: New Directions in GEM•ology by Richard Hughes
A wide-ranging presentation that takes the audience from the mines of East Africa, Madagascar, Laos and Montana (USA), to the laboratories that document the gems for consumers. In this journey, Hughes points out the fact that the gem trade's promotion efforts are almost entirely product-focused, whereas other industries concentrate their focus on appeals to consumers' emotions. In the end, Hughes asks if the gem trade has forgotten the very reasons why humans are attracted to precious stones.
When
2 November 2011
Where
International Colored Gemstone Mines to Market Conference
Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
Jaipur, India