ICA Newsletter

The ICA has been very busy during the 2023 year so far. In February we held a very successful ICA Congress in Dubai and welcomed our new ICA Board which consists of 25 members and 3 advisors from 16 countries. I am happy to say that 20% of our Directors are women and we hope that this number will continue to grow in the future. The Board and the 11 committees have met many times both in person and on Zoom to discuss the many issues and develop plans for the next few years.

As the Jewellery and Gem Industry kick starts again after the dormancy created by the pandemic, we have provided ICA pavilions at a number of the trade shows including Tucson, Las Vegas and Hong Kong. We have also held a number of member receptions and events around the globe allowing members to gather and enjoy the strong fellowship that being an ICA member enables.

ICA Members should feel very proud of the Gems Keep Giving Foundation which early this year delivered the most wonderful gift of fresh clean drinking water for a mining community of 3000 people in Kamtonga Kenya. The works consisted of exploration and drilling, installation of a bore, pumps, purification and filtration, water storage, reticulation equipment, buildings and infrastructure. This life changing project was delivered in a very short timeframe with the outstanding assistance provided on the ground by ICA Board Members Miriam Kamau and Evan Caplan. There will be more on this heart-warming story in an up-coming edition of InColor. I would encourage the industry to get behind our Gems Keep Giving campaign as we look for ways of providing a helping hand for artisanal mining and cutting communities in need of our assistance.

After some postponements we are delighted that the 2024 ICA Congress will be held in Shenzhen China directly after the March HKTDC show in Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a short train, bus or car trip from Hong Kong and it presents a fantastic opportunity for delegates to be a part of a forum highlighting the enormous growth opportunities for the colored gemstone industry in the largest luxury market in the world.

Our office team led by our CEO Doug Hucker has been working tirelessly for our members. We are planning some exciting new initiatives and services and for a period of strong growth. More on that in the very near future.

I encourage members to reach out to myself and my fellow board members should you require any information about what is happening within your association or how you might help with our various projects.

Damien Cody

ICA President

Don’t miss the return of the ICA Pavilion at the Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong Show! The dates are September 18-22, 2023, at the Asia World-Expo. If you are an exhibitor, you can tag @ICAGemstone and we’ll repost your videos/photos on our social media channels. 

Thank you to all our Instagram and social media family! We reached over 10,000 followers on Instagram this year, with a growth of over 25%!

As part of your ICA Member Benefits, you can be featured on all ICA social media accounts. We’ll feature your company and images/videos in an #ICAMemberShowcase! Reach over 30,000 followers, including our new profile on #Threads. Tag @ICAGemstone or email info@gemstone.org! Don’t miss out on this FREE ICA Member benefit!

Leading up to the opening of the 2023 CIBJO Congress in Jaipur, India, on October 3, 2023, the fifth of the pre-congress Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Coloured Stone Commission, headed by Charles Abouchar, the report warns that the current high demand for colored gemstones in the jewelry market could be threatened by heat-treated and irradiated stones, often corundum, making their way into the distribution chain. 

The House of Gübelin has opened the Gübelin Gem Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The compact museum is host to a variety of multi-media displays exploring the creation, origin and appeal of colored gemstones, as well as the history and innovations of the six-generation family business.

Attendees can visit local gem and jewelry sights, including the German Gemstone Museum and the Fischbach copper mine, for free.

The Cultured Pearl Association of America (CPAA) has opened its 14th Annual International Pearl Design Competition (IPDC), complete with another collaboration with retail partner the Aaron Faber Gallery to showcase (and sell!) winning designs. The contest is open through Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

Much like the treasure trove of delight that was the Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023 season, this year's Autumn/Winter Haute Joaillerie (otherwise known as High Jewelry) collections have also added to the fanfare.