Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 17/99) - The diamond business has its share of mystery and intrigue, arguably to its benefit, so it's no surprise it also comes with its share of sleuths.

Enter the Gemological Institute of America with its 250 diamond graders.

GIA sees and grades most of the world's superior quality diamonds, said Jim Littman, the institute's chief development officer. Many diamond houses use the institute's grading expertise.

"We are the industry's detectives," Littman said.

GIA, a non-profit organization formed in 1931, is partly funded by the industry. Among its financial supporters is De Beers. GIA also generates revenue from lab fees and tuition from the gemology courses it offers.

With the end of the Cold War, a lot of technology hit the private sector. Some ended up in the jewelry business, Littman said.

"Our research department has a 'the buck stops here' mentality."

Littman, with the GIA's Carlsbad, CA., office, spoke Sunday evening about the various roles the institute plays. He is in Yellowknife this week as part of a government-sponsored jewelry information session.

"Moissanite is the latest diamond simulant," Littman said.

"(Moissanite) has the same thermal conductivity as diamond. We've had to come up with a detection technology."

Moissanite, the mineral moniker for silicon carbide, was named after Henri Moissan. Moissan discovered natural silicon carbide while analyzing part of the Diablo Canyon meteorite in 1905.

More recently, science has found a way to create moissanite in the lab.

By acting as industry detective, GIA can inform the industry about detecting new synthetics, Littman said.

Asked how many diamonds the GIA finds to be synthetic, Littman would only say "lots."

He adds that fake gems shake consumer confidence.

GIA has a long history in the diamond business. The institute's founder, jeweller Robert Shipley, created the diamond colour-grading system used today.

Way back when, Shipley decided the best way to lessen rampant fraud in the diamond business was to set up an educational program. He created some basic courses. Today, the GIA has a variety of programs and courses. Students can take courses in gem identification and diamond grading. There are even courses on grading pearls, jewelry sales and insurance appraisal.

The institute's Gems and Gemology publication is considered the industry standard.

On employment, Littman said there are more jobs than GIA graduates. He believes a graduate of the institute can get several job offers. Over 300,000 people have taken GIA courses.

He also said much of the success of the diamond industry depends on partnerships.

The North, with diamonds and gold, has the basic ingredients to build a jewelry market, he said.