Whiteflash-Diamond Playground

From Rapaport (Jeff Miller) - The Tanzanite Foundation and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) Hong Kong launched a tanzanite grading services venue during the Hong Kong jewelry show. IGI Hong Kong is now the third IGI location to offer tanzanite grading in accordance with the Tanzanite Quality Scale. On September 27, 2007 the Tanzanite Foundation and IGI will host a presentation and cocktail event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Level 4, Room 402-3 at 4:00 p.m. Gabriella Endlin, technical director of the Tanzanite Foundation said, “A key consideration for the Tanzanite Foundation in working with IGI to launch the tanzanite grading initiative was IGI’s global reach and reputation. IGI not only shares our vision for a universal, consistent tanzanite grading system, but has the international presence, expertise and market positioning to play a key role in achieving this goal.” Marc Brauner, CEO of IGI Hong Kong said, “We at IGI are very pleased to have been appointed by the Tanzanite Foundation as the official gemological institute for testing and grading tanzanite. ”The Tanzanite Quality Scale provides accurate and consistent grading for tanzanite, which we feel is going to contribute to consumer confidence. Furthermore, we are very impressed with the Tanzanite Foundation’s many contributions to Tanzanian communities, which include educational and healthcare funding and the promotion of ethical mining.” The Tanzanite Quality Scale is the only specific international grading system to date for tanzanite. It was developed to protect quality and price consistency, allow for direct comparability and aid consumer confidence in tanzanite purchasing. Tanzanite Quality Scale grading certificates issued by IGI will provide the assurance that the tanzanite inspected is authentic and of natural origin, from the world’s only known tanzanite source situated in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.