AGTA GTC Laboratory Update
| PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Contact: | Joyann Cooke | November 12, 2007 |
| 800-972-1162 | ||
AGTA Gemological Testing Center Now Issues Tanzanite Grading Reports According to the Tanzanite Foundation's Universal Grading System-Tanzanite Quality Scale™
Dallas, TX-November 12, 2007 – The AGTA Gemological Testing Center (GTC) is proud to announce that it now offers Tanzanite Grading Reports in accordance with the Tanzanite Quality Scale™. The Tanzanite Quality Scale™ is a tanzanite specific, internationally recognized tanzanite grading system which has recently been launched in North America in March 2007 and Hong Kong in September 2007. The Tanzanite Foundation's vision is to establish a universal standard for grading tanzanite so as to facilitate for trade and consumer confidence, encourage a more comprehensive and consistent understanding of tanzanite's qualities and rarity, as well as encourage the development of a more formalized industry.
The AGTA is a leading industry force in the promotion of colored gemstones and provides education and research as an integral part of their mission and purpose. In 2002, the AGTA selected tanzanite as a December birthstone, adding it to a list of birthstones unchanged since 1912.
Gabriella Endlin, Technical Director of the Tanzanite Foundation comments, "We are extremely gratified to enter into this strategic cooperation with the American Gem Trade Association and its Gemological Testing Center. Their support of our vision for a universal, consistent tanzanite grading system is essential. The AGTA has the expertise and market positioning to play a key role in achieving this unprecedented goal."
On November 12, 2007, the AGTA GTC and Tanzanite Foundation hosted a cocktail event at the Cornell Club in New York. AGTA GTC Laboratory Director, Dr. Lore Kiefert said, "I am very excited about this collaboration. The Tanzanite Foundation's vision is something very well worth sharing, and we are proud that Tanzanite Foundation has selected us to do so. Tanzanite is consistent in its properties making it a perfect gemstone to receive a grading report. We are looking forward to a continued collaboration with the Tanzanite Foundation."
The Tanzanite Quality Scale™ grades according to specific standards under the 4 C's criteria of Carat Weight, Color, Clarity and Cut. A fifth "C" stands for Confidence. Tanzanite Quality Scale™ grading certificates issued by AGTA GTC will provide the assurance that the tanzanite inspected is accurately graded, authentic and of natural origin, from the world's only known tanzanite source situated at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, East Africa.
The American Gem Trade Association is recognized within the jewelry trade as the authoritative source on natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls. Since it's inception in 1981, AGTA's membership has grown to over 1,000 members in the United States and Canada. Their objectives include promoting, maintaining and perpetuating the highest ethical standards among the Members of AGTA and within the colored gemstone industry as well as protecting the natural colored gemstone, and related industries from fraud, abuse, misrepresentation and deceptive advertising related to colored gemstones. They create a greater awareness of knowledge about colored gemstones and act as a source of information for the jewelry trade to disseminate to the consumer by educating these industries and related industries and the consumer about natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Lore Kiefert, AGTA GTC, New York (212) 752-1717 or lkiefert@agta-gtc.org.
Gabriella Endlin, Tanzanite Foundation, London +44 207 495 7805 or gabriella@tanzanitefoundation.org.
