FGA GRADUATION FUNCTION

At a grandeur function held at the historic and world famous Goldsmiths Hall, London , Mr. K.T. Ramchandran, FGA, Secretary of the Gemmological Institute of India gave away the graduation certificates to the successful students of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain for the year 2006.

Mr. Ramchandran was the Chief Guest at the Function held on 6 th November at London . Dr. Allan Collins, the well known scientist Chaired the function. Dr. Jack Ogden , CEO and Dr. Ian Mercer, Education Director of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain also addressed the gathering. The speech delivered by Mr. Ramchandran at the Convocation Function is enclosed in favour of publication.

FGA is one of the most coveted and prestigious gemological degrees in the field of gemology in the world. It is in the year 1908, first time in the world the Gemmological Studies started in London by the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.

To the outstanding students the following awards were presented by the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.

The Tully Medal was awarded to Dr Catherine Appleyard of Lewes, East Sussex , and England . This prestigious medal, the top Gem-A award, has not been awarded for some years. It is given to the candidate who submits the best set of answers in the Diploma in Gemmology examination and which, in the opinion of the Examiners, is of sufficiently high standard to merit the award. Dr Appleyard was also awarded the Anderson Bank Prize for the best non-trade candidate of the year in the Diploma in Gemmology examination.

The Christie’s Prize for Gemmology for the best candidate of the year in the Diploma examination who derives her main income from activities essentially connected with the jewellery trade has been awarded to Nicola Sherriff of Verdun , Quebec , Canada.

The Anderson Medal for the candidate who submitted the best set of answers in the Foundation Certificate examination which, in the opinion of the Examiners, are of sufficiently high standard, was awarded to Kay Harris of Penang , Malaysia .

The Hirsh Foundation Award for the best candidate of the year in the Foundation Certificate Examination was awarded to two candidates, Kay Harris of Penang , Malaysia , and Simon Dowden of Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania , U.S.A.

The Deeks Diamond Prize for the best candidate of the year in the Diploma in Gem Diamond examinations was awarded to Perry Huck of Harare , Zimbabwe .

Ms. Nicola Sherriff receiving the Christie’s Prize for Gemmology award

From Left to Right - Sarah O’ Brien- Christie’s London Representative, Nicola Sherriff and K.T. Ramchandran.

GEMMOLOGICAL SEMINAR HELD IN LONDON

At the Award ceremony of the Gem-A, a Gemmological Seminar was organized by the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in Renaissance Hotel at London . Dr. Jayshree Panjikar and Mr. K.T. Ramchandran presented a paper on “Occurrences of Corundum in various states of India ”. In the presentation of the paper, Dr. Jayshree Panjikar traced and highlighted the origin and geological occurrences of Corundum in India . The presentation dealt with various Gemmological properties of Corundum found in 5 states of India namely Kerala, Karnataka Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.