ABOUT THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SINKANKAS SYMPOSIUM
– Alexandrite and Other Color-Change Gemstones (VIRTUAL)

Named for one of the most distinguished and influential figures in gemology and mineralogy, the Sinkankas Symposium is an annual event featuring presentations by noted specialists working in diverse gem-related disciplines.

The theme of the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium is Alexandrite and Other Color-Change Gemstones and will be in a virtual format this year. The virtual experience will feature a menu of 10 pre-recorded 30-minute exclusive presentations available to view on-demand from Monday, April 25, 2022 until Monday, June 6, 2022 on the Sinkankas Eventbrite page. You will be required to register in order to have access to these presentations.

The Sinkankas Symposium has been described as the most important gemological conference in North America by respected authorities on gemstones. Organized by Roger Merk for 13 years (2003–2015), this year's event is co-sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the Geo-Literary Society and the Gemological Society of San Diego. Bill Larson has been a generous supporter and speaker at the event since its inception.

EVENT TIMELINE:

Registration for the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium (Virtual) is now open through June 5, 5PM PDT (GMT-7).
April 8, 2022 – Printed Volumes for the Eighteenth Annual Symposium (2022) may be pre-ordered through June 6, 2022 at: sinkankas.dpidirect.com.
Back issues for past symposia – Eleventh through Seventeenth – may also be pre-ordered through June 6, 2022. (This is the only printing scheduled for 2022; no extra copies will be available for order after June 6th, 2022.)
April 25, 2022, 9AM PDT – Start of the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium (Virtual). Pre-recorded presentations are available to registrants for viewing on demand.
April 25 – May 13, 2022 – Submit questions for the Speakers to: events@gia.edu. Be sure to include in the subject line: Question for [speaker name or moderator].
May 26, 2022 – Q&A video, hosted by Robert Weldon: A compendium of speaker responses to selected attendee questions submitted through May 13th.
June 5, 2022, 5PM PDT – Last day to register to view on-demand speaker presentations.
June 6, 2022, 3PM PDT – Close of the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium.
June 6, 2022, noon PDT – Last day to pre-order printed symposia volumes in 2022.
June 23, 2022, 5PM PDT – A free PDF of the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium volume will be available for download. Check back here for the destination URL where the PDF may be downloaded. Copyright permissions apply, no reproduction or cross-posting online, in whole or in part, is permitted, except by explicit written permission of the authors/contributors.
July 1, 2022 – Orders for printed symposia volumes ship. Please allow up to 21 days for delivery, depending upon destination.

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SINKANKAS SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
– SPEAKERS & TOPICS*

Recognized specialists in fields ranging from geology and mineralogy to history, treatment, cutting and collecting will present on Alexandrite and Other Color-Change Gemstones:
Evan Caplan
Alexandrite, pricing factors and the future market
William Larson
Collecting color-change minerals and gemstones from world localities
Dr. Ciğdem Lüle
Diaspore from Turkey
Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña
Color-change phenomena in diamonds
Niveet Nagpal
Designing with color-change gemstones
Nathan Renfro
The micro-world of alexandrite and other color-change gems
Stuart Robertson
Price trends of alexandrite and other color-change gemstones
Dr. Aaron Palke and Dr. George R. Rossman
Causes of color in color-change gemstones
Wim Vertriest
Overview of the geology and mining of alexandrite
Robert Weldon
Gem photography’s biggest challenge: Color-change gemstones

* Presentations are subject to change without notice.