The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced the date of its 18^th Jewelry Career Fair in New York to be Friday, July 25, 2008 and held at the Jacob Javits Center. The event brings together the jewelry industry’s most distinguished leaders, influential executives, and visionaries to successfully bridge the gap between leading companies looking for resources and talented individuals seeking a profession in jewelry.

This year’s event will start with a star-studded “Working to Win” panel that will give attendees exclusive insight on what it takes to be a success in the gem industry.

These notable panelists include:

• Ralph Destino, chairman of GIA (moderator)
• Steven Lagos, designer and CEO of LAGOS
• Susan Jacques, president and CEO of Borsheims
• Rahul Kadakia, senior vice president, head of department of Christie’s Americas
• Ann Arnold, vice president and CFO of Lieberfarb

GIA’s vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, Kathryn Kimmel said, “This year’s speakers and panelists represent the highest caliber of the most prominent executives who are at the forefront of the jewelry industry. For job seekers to be given the opportunity to meet these internationally recognized individuals all at one time and in one place, is quite extraordinary. Anyone interested in the jewelry industry should attend this event.”

In addition to recruiters representing leading companies like David Yurman, Oscar Heyman, Tiffany & Co., and Zale Corp., the full-day event provides attendees with a comprehensive jewelry career agenda that includes career coaching sessions, immigration law workshop, jewelry design panel and a “marketing yourself for success” panel.

Rahul Kadakia, a GIA Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) and senior vice president for Christie’s is one of the Working to Win panelists who received his position with the famous auction house through attending the GIA Jewelry Career Fair in 1996.

Prior to the JA Summer Show, the GIA Jewelry Career Fair will be held at the Jacob Javits Center on Friday, July 25 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The fair is free and open to those interested in a profession in jewelry.

Career Fair was founded by GIA and The Jewelers 24 Karat Club of Southern California. The Nielsen Jewelry Group is the prime sponsor of the New York Career Fair.

Employers interested in recruiting can contact GIA’s Career Services office at 800-421-7250, ext. 4195, or e-mail Dani Oliver at dani.oliver@gia.edu.

Job seekers can call GIA’s Jewelry Career Fair hotline at 800-421-7250, ext. 4100, or e-mail at careerfair@gia.edu. For more information visit, www.careerfair.gia.edu.

About GIA:

An independent nonprofit organization, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is recognized as the world's foremost authority in gemology. Established in 1931, GIA has translated its expert knowledge into the most respected gemological education available. Early in the 1950s, GIA invented the famous Four Cs of Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight. In 1953, the Institute created the International Diamond Grading System™ which, today, is recognized by virtually every professional jeweler in the world.

Through research, education, gemological laboratory services, and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science, and professionalism. GIA can be found on the web at www.gia.edu. Media queries contact: Laura Simanton 760-603-4112 or Jessica Sachariason 760-603-4197.