World Of Gems Conference 2017 Proceedings Book

Roland Schluessel, FGA, DGemG Roland Schluessel was born in Switzerland and spent part of his childhood in Milan, Italy. After graduating from business, management and marketing schools in Switzerland, he studied gemology in Idar-Oberstein and London, where he was awarded the Rayner Prize in 1985. He was a senior director of the gemstone and jewelry department, and member of the board of directors of the leading jewelry and watch company in Switzerland. During his many travels to the mining sites in South-America, Africa and Asia, and as a hobby photographer, Roland captured more than 300,000 pictures of gem mining, vol- canic eruptions, gemstones and inclusions in gemstones. His presentations on gem- stones have been valued in many countries throughout the world. Roland Schluessel resides in Tiburon - San Francisco since 2004. Together with his wife Nata, they own the gemstone wholesale company Pillar & Stone International which specializes in fine colored gemstones and jadeite. Roland has extensively visited Myan- mar several times and is the author of the book “Mogok – Myanmar, A Journey to the Finest Rubies and Sapphires in the World” (2002; written in German). Pillar & Stone International, Inc. 19 Andrew Drive #32 Tiburon, CA 94920 info@pillarandstone.com Nicholas Sturman, FGA, DGA Nicholas Sturman has over 24 years of detailed experience in the examination of pearls. He obtained his FGA and DGA qualifications in the UK prior to joining the world-renowned Gem Testing Laboratory of Great Britain, when it existed, and con- tinued with 16 years studying pearls in the Kingdom of Bahrain where he was em- ployed as the gemological advisor to the Bahrain Government’s Gem and Pearl Testing Laboratory. Nick specializes in the separation of natural pearls from all types of cultured pearls using Real-Time Microradiography and X-ray Computed Microtomography (CT) units in-house at the GIA Bangkok laboratory. He also oversees the final work on jobs be- fore they are completed and works with his team to complete client work quickly and accurately. As well as writing contributions to various gemological publications he has also given presentations in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, The United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and various countries within the Middle East. Nick also assists with teaching and educational seminars when required, and has co-authored two books “Kunooz Al-Bahrain” and “Splendour and Science of Pearls.” Nick was also the joint winner of the 2010 Dr. Edward J. Gubelin Most Valuable Article Award, as voted by Gems & Gemology readers. GIA Thailand 10 th Floor U-Chu-Lang Building 968, Rama IV Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand nsturman@gia.edu SPEAKERS WORLD OF GEMS CONFERENCE V - 59 - SEPTEMBER 2017