GIA’s Boyajian resigns, questions about allocation lab aspersion linger

GIA’s Boyajian resigns, questions about allocation lab aspersion amble

BoyajianWilliam Boyajian, admiral of the Gemological Convention of America (GIA), accommodated on May 22, appearance the most recent blow in a pay-for-upgrading aspersion that has decrepit the acceptability of the educational alignment and gem allocation laboratory.

Donna Baker, GIA’s arch carnality admiral and accepted admonition back 2001, will serve as acting admiral while GIA searches for Boyajian’s replacement, the convention announced.

Boyajian’s abandonment comes as GIA struggles to appear to gripes with a design allocation aspersion that has rocked its credibility. In October 2005, GIA appear that Thomas Yonelunas, arch controlling of its lab operations, had accommodated and that it had accursed four lab advisers based on an centralized analysis it had undertaken in the deathwatch of a accusation accusing GIA’s Fresh York lab of falsifying design allocation reports. News belief of the aspersion accustomed arresting account in The Wall Street Journal, The Fresh York Times and added newspapers aloof afore Christmas aftermost year, deepening fears amid jewelers that design sales would suffer.

In November, Ralph Destino, administrator emeritus of Cartier and a affiliate of GIA’s Lath of Governors, was appointed controlling administrator of GIA, finer abating Boyajian of circadian control.

Boyajian administration spanned the avant-garde era at the 75 year old academy of gem sciences. Joining as a abecedary in 1975, he climbed up through the role of business and fresh activity administrator and ascended to admiral in 1986, afterwards gemology avant-garde Richard Liddicoat of the Four C’s.

Perhaps Boyajian’s greatest legacy, clashing the gemological contributions fabricated by his predecessors, will be GIA’s 1996 alteration from Santa Monica to an expansive, avant-garde campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Carlbad, CA. Under Boyajian’s administration on the project, the industry donated millions for the campus construction.

Plot Thickens in Carlsbad

Ultimately, it would be the affair of fund-raising that would appear to abode GIA, acceptable accordingly intertwined with allegations of bribery at the lab. Under Destino, GIA bound acted to abolish any appearances of barbarism stemming from programs such adopted appraisement for “member” dealers. Dealers believed to acquire been complex in the aspersion were banned from accepting any design allocation services.

Since 1995, GIA has accustomed donors of $100,000 or added anniversary year at its League of Honor Banquet in Fresh York. The allocation aspersion aloft questions about the account of inductees, which includes advancement of 100 companies from DeBeers to Tiffany & Co.: Did design companies on the account account in their allocation for donating? Did the money donated by non-diamond companies go to a aces cause?

From actuality on, however, GIA has vowed to no best accost or acquire donations from companies whose stones are graded in lab and said that it will change the focus of the anniversary banquet from anniversary donors to acquainted individuals for industry service.

Diamantaires still appetite names

Within the design community, Boyajian’s abandonment was greeted with the faculty that the move was adverse yet inevitable.

“I anticipate that the lath at GIA acquainted this was a all-important step,” says Ronald Friedman, admiral of the Design Manufacturers and Importers Association (DMIA).

While not afraid by the move, he stresses that the lab affair shouldn’t adumbrate Boyajian’s accomplishments during his 20-year administration as president.

“One shouldn’t lose afterimage of all the assignment that was done. He absolutely shaped and oversaw the advance of the organization. Both in gemological casework and education, I anticipate he larboard an enduring mark,” Friedman says.

But there charcoal annoyance over the actuality that those active as bribers acquire not been called or captivated accountable.

“The industry and the barter is still cat-and-mouse for the absolution of the names which is analytical for the accomplished industry to get accomplished the situation,” he adds.

Jeff Fischer, admiral of the International Design Manufacturers Association, echoed Friedman’s sentiments, praising V Boyajian’s clue almanac but acquainted admiration for acknowledgment of any design dealers involved.

“That’s a law administration action and we are still acquisitive to see that,” he says.

While those in the design association wouldn’t animadversion on whether the abandonment is acceptable or bad for GIA, they said all-embracing changes fabricated to abode the affair are for the better.

“My claimed activity is that GIA is on the appropriate track,” says Ronnie Vanderlinden, carnality admiral and arch banking administrator for the DMIA. “As far is Bill goes, he’s an adverse casualty.”

Still, some said that as baton of GIA, Boyajian had to booty the ultimate albatross for what happened on his watch. One industry insider, who asked not to be named, likened the bearings to back a drillmaster who pushes his aggregation to accomplish charge be captivated answerable if his players booty it too far and alpha application drugs.

Boyajian will break on through July as a consultant, alive with Baker and Destino through the transition. According to Helene Fortunoff, the fresh administrator of GIA’s Lath of Governors, the convention has formed a appropriate board to chase for a fresh abiding president. Baker will be advised as a candidate, she said.

Recruited by Boyajian in 2001, Baker’s job had been to baby-sit GIA’s acknowledged affairs, animal resources, operations, absolute acreage planning and development. A GIA alum gemologist, she additionally oversaw GIA’s museum, library and abundant appropriate projects.

Written by Whitney Sielaff and Susan Thea Posnock

Published in National Jeweler