Two long-standing organisations with related origins will quickly turn out to be nearer with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) absorbing the diamond grading operations of the American Gem Society (AGS).
The AGS is a commerce affiliation of retail jewellers, suppliers, and different trade members, based in 1934 by Robert Shipley.
Three years previous to the institution of the AGS, Shiply based the GIA as an schooling and analysis facility devoted to the examine of gem stones.
The 2 organisations introduced final week that the AGS Laboratories’ mental property, know-how, analysis employees, and Las Vegas facility will turn out to be a part of the GIA.
AGS Laboratories will proceed to offer companies till the top of 2022 earlier than the combination is finalised.
“This consequential settlement brings AGS and GIA even nearer, driving our future with 90 years of shared historical past and elevating our founders’ imaginative and prescient,” mentioned AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh.
“AGS and GIA every have their distinctive perspective and experience, and a steadfast give attention to advancing ethics, requirements and schooling within the gem and jewelry trade.”
GIA president Susan Jacques echoed this sentiment.
“By harnessing one another’s strengths to maneuver ahead boldly, customers shall be higher protected and we are going to make sure the longevity of the Shipleys’ imaginative and prescient,” she mentioned
In line with the AGS, the event of latest progressive merchandise to assist customers and the commerce at giant shall be a precedence in 2023 and past.
AGS Laboratories was fashioned in 1996 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Gem Society.
*CORRECTION: An earlier model of this text (21 October) featured inaccuracies concerning the combination of AGS Laboratories into the GIA. Jeweller thanks the GIA and AGS for shortly bringing the difficulty to mild so the error might be rectified.
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