IGS - 2002

Respected Shri Chandrakantbhai, Our Guest of Honour, Shri A.K. Singh, Our President Mrs. Indira Vikamsey, Vice-President Mr. Kapil Malhotra, Secretary of our forum Mr. K.T. Ramchandran, Convener Mr. K.K. Sharma, Ladies & Gentlemen. Good evening to all of you.

I feel really honoured to be at the IGS again to address you with a revived vigor and enthusiasm.

The energy and vibration I am getting from my fellow gemologists here keeps me so vibrant that I feel IGS is such a platform in my life that energies me in the field of gemology.

As Mr. Ramchandran said a while ago that the IGS is an inspiration for me and my colleagues. We want IGS to be a national event wherein all the gemologist from all the parts of the country will be participating without fail. It should be a reunion of the family of gemological fraternity every year.

It gives me great satisfaction to address this elite gathering. It is indeed a satisfaction of meeting once again all the like minded and qualified gemmologists from all parts of the country together under one banner i.e. IGS. IGS as you all know now is basically pilgrimage for gemologists once
in a year. We meet, we discuss and understand the newer developments in the field of gemology in doing so we are paying homage to the science of gemmology.

Friends, last month when I was going through my old books I came across a very old picture post card I had sent to my mother from Udaipur on 25th November 1974. Exactly 28 years ago I had come as a college student to Udaipur. I never dreamt then, that years later I would be bringing my students to this very place. In these 28 years I have studied and literally enjoyed studying gemmology. Gemmology as a science of gemstones has developed and reached no doubt a great height in the last three decades. As well as the role of gemmologist has also seen changes.

The role of the gemmologists has changed in many ways over the years especially in the last decade. Not only the techniques and instrumentation for gem identification have become more advanced. The methods and steps in a routine work like diamond grading have become more extensive and sophisticated in the wake of diamond treatments like fractures filling and HPHT. The new developments in treatments have made it necessary for all gemmologists to become well informed.

Like everybody knows about the 9/11 episode, followed by the anthrax scare in the United States, but how many know that the United States Postal Service had kept several Linear Accelerators to check the post. These machines produce a beam of high-energy electrons to kill anthrax spores present in the mail. No doubt these electrons kill the anthrax spores but they also change the colour of our gemstones! In fact these very accelerators are used to induce colour in diamonds, produce the blue colour in topaz. In fact in the US gemstones are routinely sent by post. Customers found that the white pearls they had ordered by mail were irradiated to grey colour, emeralds had become black, corals had changed to brown colour, whereas the beautiful aquamarine had changed to a worthless green. Even citrine had turned to a dirty brown, Kunzite which is lilac colour had changed to green. Many dealers lost their clientele many did not know what had gone wrong, many thought the client had changed the stone while returning. While those who were gemmologists immediately took corrective steps. It took some time before people became aware but see what a little radiation can do but even more you realise how your knowledge of gemmology helps.

One has to continuously upgrade one's knowledge. This is only possible by attending Seminars workshops, conference and reading the latest journals. This is where IGS plays an important role. It brings you the latest knowledge about gemstones, synthetics, new occurrences, new gems, treatments and markets. Besides gives you wide scope to enlarge your information on astrology, astro-gemmology and other gem-related topics as well as up dates your contacts.

In fact I consider IGS as a chance to make new contacts also a reunion of all our members along with their families. It is an opportunity to make new friends and renew the old friendships. Similarly it is an opportunity for all of us to understand the problems and prospects in the Gemmological field existing in the country. If you see today the government-approved valuers are experienced persons but they are not always qualified gemmologists. Do you think such persons would be able to value the gemstones properly if they themselves were not sure whether the stone was natural, synthetic, simulant or treated? Therefore our government should make it mandatory to have certification of authenticity of the gems before valuation is done.

Friends the industry has grown beyond leaps and bounds. In 1971 when GII was established the exports of the gemstones were only 3747 crores. Today it has crossed over 35000 crores. An astronomical figure !!

In comparison with this growth, the scientific advancement in our gem & jewellery industry has not taken place. For sustaining the commercial growth, the Technological and Scientific support is necessary. They are the 2 sides of the same coin. There is a lopsided growth in the field of Science & Technology connected to the gemstones. It is happened because of the nature of the business our country was involved with. India remained as only a manufacturing center for diamonds caterings cut and polished diamonds to the world market. We have specialized in the smallest size of the goods no other country in the World has ever dared to touch. This had given a virtual monopoly in the small size segment of the world diamond supply. This monopolistic position has put us above the competition from other manufacturing centers. In fact competition is the key word for the innovation.

Innovation requires research and development. The need for research and development automatically develops the scientific study of gemstones.

Scientific study in turn automatically develops more and more technical and technological developments in the Industry, which is absolutely essential to stay ahead in the competition from other parts of the world.

Now the scenario has started changing. The domestic market is emerging as a major segment for the Gem & Jewellery Articles. Domestic market in another five years time, I am sure, is going to be one of the most important and potential areas of the Indian industry. When domestic market develops, there has to be a supporting system for the quality of the gemstones sold in the market. This supporting system is the certification of Gemstones. This will evolve a service namely testing and certification of gemstones for its identification and quality. The Gem testing laboratories and the gemologists are going to be the consultants for the industry and consumers. On your certification and advise the traders and customers will be convinced about the identification and quality of the merchandise.

Similarly yet another area that is fast emerging in India is the mining of gemstones. Mining of the diamonds and other precious minerals have taken an important place or a priority listing by many State Governments especially Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhatisgarh, Orissa etc.

It is interesting to note that huge deposits of many gemstones, especially diamonds have been located in many states of India.

It is expected that many of these states will be having a very good quantity of the diamond deposits. Gemstones like Rubies, Aquamarine, Topaz, Garnet, Quartz, Alexandrite etc. are found in the country in abundant quantity. All these gem materials, which are found in India will soon be turned into studded jewellery. This studded jewellery will be playing a very important role in the domestic market in another 5 years time.

The other day I was reading about a news item from Tahiti. Tahiti, as many of you may know, is world famous for Cultured-Pearls especially black pearls. Like India is world famous for diamonds. But in the Tahitian Government there is a Ministry for Pearls! Mr. Gaston Flosse is the Minister. His ministry ensures, that the customs department controls that no inferior quality pearls leave the country. Standards have been set up by this ministry for nacre thickness of the pearls to prevent thinly coated pearls from reaching the market and spoiling the reputation of the country. In India also we could have a Ministry for Gems & Jewellery if not a ministry for diamonds!

But as gemmologists we could do something to help the nation to maintain a good reputation of quality of the gems and jewellery we export. In fact Bureau of Indian standards is coming up with standardization for diamonds on International level. This would be a major break through. Like the standardization for gold. Tough measures will be taken. This may look initially problematic but over the years it would increase customer confidence.

You will realize there is much to be done. We have many a mountain to climb. It is possible only when we come together as large mass of Indian Gemmologists.

Today a new wave of gemstone science has swept all the centres of gemstone trade and industry in India. Gemmology is considered as a major career option. No doubt the gemstone world is a glamorous world. To maintain this glamour we have to be in tune with changes taking place in world scenario be it diamond grading, jewellery designing, gem testing, gemstone cutting and polishing and jewellery manufacturing. In all these aspects the base is gemmology. Gemmology is a powerful and important field. It is a magnificent medium that can help to change the traditional concepts and reinforce the modern business ethics.

Even the Mighty De Beers has changed. It has given up its control of the world diamond supply after 100years to develop a new strategy "Supplier of Choice". According to Mr. Stein of Fortune, this may be due to 3 factors the collapse of the Soviet Union, Argyle's termination of contract with De Beers and the rise of the new diamond producers like Ekati in Canada. This new plan creates the "The Supplier of Choice" category of sightholder who is able to build strong brands independently or by teeming up with other companies. Hence the new breed of sight holders will be fewer in number than in the past but they will be financially the strongest manufacturers with best retail marketing skills. In short, what was some years ago a cartel of many will be transformed into a more powerful cartel of the few. Today behind each and every sightholder there is some gemmologist or other to help with his problems.

Gemmology is a very potent language through which people can communicate their business points without any difficulty. Businessmen now can understand each other about their requirement by learning this new language gemmology. It could be any thing connected to gemstone, astrology, jewellery, import/export, mining or manufacturing. Gemmology has its say in all of them. Gemmologists have a moral duty and responsibility to the gem industry and to the society as a whole.

We always tell our students passing out from the GII that they are the messengers and they have to propagate this science of gemstones in India.
It is for their benefit and for the betterment of the industry and the country that the science of gemstone should develop well. The ignorance, misunderstanding and misinformation existing in the gem trade should be cleared. More and more people should be told and taught about gemstone science. This will automatically develop, enlarge and widen the scope of gemstone business. The business of gemstones has to come out of its traditional boundaries. The business in its original format worked in a watertight compartment. Like De Beers our gemstone business strategies should also change. We have to use new research techniques to develop and spread out the knowledge to every one. Sky is the limit for gemstone business in our country.

India has such a vast population that is always celebrating some festival or some occasion which call for a gemstone or jewellery. It is therefore very easy to sell gemstones. Even if a negligible percentage of Indian population is introduced and influenced to buy gemstone, the existing gemstone market will not be in a position to cater to them so vast is the potential. This would mean a greater scope for every gemmologist. We have to develop the interest in gems in our Indian society. Be it by scientific lectures, or by just plain discussions on the astrological uses of gems. This interest will turn into the urge to buy gems. This urge could be due to astrological needs or due to the attraction for gems. Whatever the case may be the gemmologist is required to test the gem!

Today a gemmologist has to meet many challenges like new synthetics, new unheard of gems, new innovative treatments, different fillers, laser drilling and irradiation and their detection. If you want to survive in this fast moving competitive world of gem business and industry then knowledge is the key word. Believe me, in this year this is the fourth seminar I am attending. In the month of February I attended the International Diamond conference at Raipur, in the new state of Chhatisgarh. Until then I did not know that major international mining companies like Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, De Beers,and many others have already pitched their tents in India and have started doing prospecting for diamonds in the states of Karnataka, Andhra, Orissa, Madhya pradesh and Chhatisgarh. It was indeed an eye opener for me.

Friends, all of us should take keen interest in maintaining IGS as a powerful medium to develop, promote and propagate gemology in our country.

I am sure all of us definitely will gain a lot during this seminar.

Thank you