In July 2015, news spread through the trade about a ruby discovery in the Zahamena National Park in Madagascar. Soon after, GIA field gemologists visited the area, confirmed the existence of the deposit and witnessed around a thousand people working the area. Vincent Pardieu, GIA’s senior manager of field gemology in Bangkok, will discuss the field expedition to the Zahamena ruby deposit during GIA’s (Gemological Institute of America) next Gemstone Gathering in Bangkok on Oct. 28.

Pardieu’s presentation will cover the similarities between Zahamena rubies and those from the nearby deposits East of Andilamena and East of Didy. He will also discuss conservation efforts in Madagascar, some challenges surrounding the new discovery and features of these rubies. Special video footage of the field expedition will be shown during the Gemstone Gathering.

Pardieu specializes in the origin determination of gemstones and has visited numerous gemstone-producing areas in South East Asia, Central Asia and East Africa and particularly the Ilakaka–Sakaraha sapphire deposits of southern Madagascar over the past decade. He has spent his career in leadership positions with gemological laboratories around the world, including in Thailand and Switzerland. His research and expertise have been the catalyst for numerous articles in GIA’s Gems & Gemology and various trade publications.

GIA’s Gemstone Gathering, a free event, begins at 6 p.m. on Oct. 28 in the “Crowne Room 1-3” on the 21st floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Lumpini Park in Bangkok.

Due to limited seating, please RSVP by Oct. 27 to ckitpras@gia.edu or the GIA laboratory in Bangkok at +66 (0) 2-632-4090. For more information, visit www.giathai.net.

For press inquiries, please contact Kristin Mahan at kristin.mahan@gia.edu or +1 760-603-4184.