SHIGERU AKAMATSU                    

Mikimoto, Japan

One Hundred Year History of Cultured Pearls

As well as being a senior manager at K. Mikimoto & Co., Shigeru Akamatsu has been the Japanese delegate of the CIBJO Pearl Commission since 1993, served as president of the CIBJO Pearl Commission from 1998-2001, and has been Vice-President since 2001. He has also served as counsellor of the Japan Pearl Promotion Society since 2003. Shigeru Akamatsu spoke about the globalization and future prospects of cultured pearls, and the age of Akoya.

GEORGE BOSSHART                                                       

Switzerland

The old and new jade roads - from the Burmese jadeite mines to China's vast jade markets

George Bosshart has had a 30-year career in the professional identification of natural, treated and synthetic gemstones, of gemstone origins, pearls, etc., as well as in analytical spectrometry at the Laboratory of the Swiss Foundation for the Research of Gemstones (SSEF, inaugurated in Zurich in 1974) and at the Gübelin Gem Lab in Lucerne, Switzerland. His presentation traced the history of the jade roads from Burma to China from the 18th century to the present day. The old Jade Road led eastward to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, where the bulk of the rough and worked jade was distributed to trading centres accross China and into the Far East. Now a slightly longer but easier route through the border city of Rui Li in Yunnan's southwestern tip and again passing Kunming, has since taken over the role of the main jade distribution channel.

PROFESSOR DR HENRY A. HÄNNI FGA                    

SSEF, Switzerland                                                                    

How to make a cultured pearl

Professor Henry Hänni, a director of the SSEF Swiss Gemmological Institute and professor for gemmology at the Basel University, gave a presentation on the requirements, options, challenges and risks for pearl farmers. Based on the speaker’s research and observations on the pearls currently on the market, the talk included detailed information on beaded cultured pearls (Tahiti, South Seas) as well as beadless cultured pearls from oysters and mussels.

ELISABETH STRACK GG FGA                                       

Germany, Gemmologisches Institut

Computer tomography – a new testing method for pearls

Tully Medallist Elisabeth Strack has gained gemmological experience in several countries and is now the owner of a gem testing laboratory in Hamburg, Germany. As well as working in her laboratory, Elisabeth Strack teaches and is the author of Pearls. Her presentation explained the use of tomograms to look into the interior of pearls. Conclusions were drawn on the use of the method for the distinction between natural and cultured, and different types of cultured pearl.

ROGER KEVERNE           

Roger Keverne Limited, London        

Jade: history of collecting, market and fakes

With many years’ experience in the antiques trade, Roger Keverne now has his own business and runs a gallery in London’s West End. He served on the Council of the British Antique Dealers’ Assocation, has participated in and produced catalogues for antiques fairs worldwide, and was editor of Jade (van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991). Roger Keverne’s presentation concentrated on the history of the collection of jade, the jade market and fakes during the past one hundred years.

MIMI OU YANG CHIU MEI FGA                                                

Hong Kong Gems Laboratory

Aspects of green coloration in jadeite jade

Mimi Ou Yang has conducted numerous studies and written extensively on jadeite jade. She founded the Hong Kong Gems Laboratory and the Hong Kong Institute of Gemmology, and has lectured in gemmology and jadeite since 1983. The value of green jadeite jade varies according to the depth and distribution of the green colour and can be a challenge to many gemmologists to appraise. Mrs Ou Yang discussed the factors affecting the quality of green colour jadeite jade and how to appraise its value.

KENNETH SCARRATT FGA DGA                                            

GIA Research, Thailand

Identification of rare pearls and pearl treatments

Kenneth Scarratt is Director of Research at GIA Research (Thailand). In his presentation he looked at the identification characteristics of several rare natural pearls. He also detailed the various treatments applied to natural and cultured pearls and methods of their detection.

GAITI RABBANI                                             

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), Dubai

Arabian Pearling: a lustrous future

Gaiti Rabbani is Executive Director of Coloured Stones and Pearls at the DMCC, a Dubai Government initiative. Up to the 1930s pearling was the backbone of the Gulf's economy. The presentation highlighted the UAE's distinguished pearling tradition and revealed the Dubai government's vision and plans to revive the local heritage and embed pearling as the keystone of the Emirates' cultural identity. The presentation was followed by a short film entitled 'The Pearl Coast' from the Pearl Museum at the National Bank of Dubai.