Bailey Banks & Biddle Goes Back to School
Did you know that GCAL makes
house calls? In an effort to educate
employees on GCAL benefits, Bailey
Banks & Biddle enlisted the help of
Donald A. Palmieri and Sharrie Hand
in October 2007 for a set of training
seminars. With stops across the
country and more to follow this year,
GCAL reached out to over 450
employees and brought them up to
speed not only on signature
products and services, but on
grading and sales techniques that
enhance the bottom line. According
to Neil Meany, BBB Regional
Manager for the Southeast U.S., the
training was an invaluable way to
tune employees in to the nuances of
GCAL’s offerings.
“These seminars weren’t just techni-
cal,” Meany explains, “they empha-
sized points to help us drive
business like features and benefits.
The training was a catalyst for a
Buy and Sell in Style
CDE relaunch offers new features, better design
With the number of Certified
Diamond Exchange members
topping 1,300, GCAL thought the
time was right to initiate a site-wide
redesign and offer a host of new
features for the growing online
community. With a more
user-friendly look and feel, CDE is
quickly becoming the go-to spot for
Join Us at JCK
Now there are more ways to learn
about GCAL at JCK. With a booth
and a suite booked for private
training sessions, GCAL will be
explaining the benefits of its
products and services to help
attendees understand how to build
their diamond business. Our lobby
booth is the place to pick up
literature on the newest and most
successful features as well as speak
larger discussion on selling skills,
and this is something that will help
generate future diamonds business.”
If you’re not ready for an on-site
seminar but want to learn how GCAL
certified diamonds can help your
business, log on to
www.gemfacts.com/elearning.
“I know that my business did
spike after the training,” Meany
says. “It took our diamond sales
to a new level, and GCAL was a
huge part of it.”
A series of web-based courses that
are essential training for any
diamond salesperson, eLearning
provides an in-depth understanding
of all of GCAL’s added value, quality
and security features. BBB is proof-
positive that a little learning can go a
long way. “I know that my business
GCAL certified diamonds. Besides
the cosmetic changes, the site now
includes expanded functionality that
benefits both buyers and sellers.
With the new Compare feature,
shoppers can choose up to five
diamonds from their search results
and compare them side-by-side,
to GCAL staff on the pros of working
with GCAL Certified Diamonds.
For more in-depth information, make
an appointment for private or semi-
private training sessions with our
experts. The GCAL Suite at The
Palazzo is available by advance
appointment for private meetings or
customized retail training sessions
of up to ten people from Tuesday,
Booth Number: L59
In Lobby Next to Buyer Registration
Helping the
did spike after the training,”
Meany says. “It took our diamond
sales to a new level, and GCAL was a
huge part of it.”
allowing viewing of each stone’s
characteristics and price when
finalizing a purchase. Email
notifications allow buyers to be
automatically contacted when
certain actions take place on CDE.
For example, if you are looking to
merchandise within certain param-
eters, you could receive an email
when any round brilliant, 1.00 ct+,
H+, I1 stones are added—or any
criteria of your choice.
Additional new features are “Add to
Basket,” a shopping time saver that
puts possible purchases into a
May 27th through Tuesday, June 3rd.
group that can be saved for future
You can schedule an appointment or
log ons, and a Markup tool that
for more information, please contact
allows dealers to add a percentage
Pam at 212 869-8985 ext. 4011.
or monetary markup to all stones
GCAL is proud to be the Official
for use in the store with a customer.
Diamond Grading Laboratory of JCK,
This eliminates wholesale prices
and Certified Diamond Exchange
being viewable to potential buyers.
(CDE) is making its debut as the
For more information or to become
Official Diamond Exchange for the
a member, log on to
show.
www.cdediamonds.com.
Environment at Work
Whether you have a store, cutting
facility or just a small office, there
are a number of ways to do your part
to save the planet. While installing
solar panels might be a bit beyond
your reach, small gestures can really
add up to a big payoff. Here are a few
simple ways to go green at your
workplace:
Recycle.
Everything from batteries to paper to causes is a great way to get involved
glass bottles should be sorted and with those in your area, plus it
recycled. It may not seem like much, benefits the next generation.
but it's a step in the right direction.
Install low-energy lighting.
By replacing standard bulbs with
LED or CFL bulbs, you'll have light
that will last up to 15 times longer,
plus reduce heat output.
GCAL’s Gillen to Speak at AGA
Build with renewable products.
If you are undergoing renovations,
try to avoid materials that are time
consuming to produce, either
artificially or naturally. Flooring
options like bamboo are popular
alternatives to slow-growing
hardwoods.
Give back to the community.
Working with local environmental
On May 30 in Las Vegas, the
Accredited Gemologists Associa-
tion will offer a diamond grading
workshop featuring Dan Gillen,
laboratory director at GCAL. With
nearly 30 years experience and a
quarter million diamonds graded,
Gillen will offer attendees insights
on grading tips, lab procedures and
diamond properties. “I really want to
touch on the many facets that help
people understand how we
diamondprofile
determine diamond grades,” Gillen
explains. According to AGA, the
workshop will include a GCAL
produced “virtual hands-on presen-
tation” and tricks of the trade that
can only be learned from decades of
experience. Other hot topics, includ-
ing high-clarity, high-color and
“split grade” stones will also be
discussed. For more information or
to register, log on
www.accreditedgemologists.org.
New York, NY 10036
580 Fifth Avenue, Lower Lobby
diamondprofile ®
© Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. 2008. All Rights Reserved. Issue Three May / June 2008
to
GCAL Receives ISO 17025:2005 Accreditation
Becoming North America’s first ISO that his job is to provide third party risk. It enhances consumer tions and standards. According to
17025:2005 Accredited Gem Lab is attestation of technical confidence. confidence, and even makes your Donald A. Palmieri, President of
more than just a piece of paper for “Basically, that means that we watch goods more easily accepted GCAL, ISO accreditation is a tremen-
GCAL, it is a testament to the them do what they do,” Stine says. overseas. Because ISO is interna- dous milestone in the company’s
company’s unmatched standards in “Laboratory tests are supposed tionally recognized, exporters don’t growth and expansion. “We are very
the field. After a rigid testing period, to be repeatable and verifiable have to retest for other markets with proud to be the first gem lab in this
GCAL was awarded the ISO seal of — we should all be doing it the different standards. “Over 40 labora- country to conform to ISO standards,
approval, meaning that it conforms same way. GCAL is the only tory accreditation bodies have and we see it as a testament to
to international standards for diamond grading lab in the signed a multi-lateral recognition offering the most reliable and
accurate and reliable grading. United States to earn this presti- statement called the ILAC Arrange- accurate grading in the industry. Our
Specifically, this recognition means gious certification, and it is one ment, which greatly enhances the customers expect more from GCAL,
that GCAL has put in place the most of only two diamond grading labs acceptance of data across the and we want to live up to that expec-
technically competent testing facility in the world that is ISO national borders of the signatory tation regardless of the time, effort or
available for accurate grading. 17025:2005 accredited.” countries,” explains Stine. cost it takes to be the best.”
Jason Stine, Testing Program What does this mean for you? Additionally, this certification isn’t a
Whether you are a retailer, manufac-
Manager for Laboratory Accredita-
tion Bureau (the firm that performs turer or customer, this accreditation
one-time-only test. Once accredited,
GCAL will be tested periodically to
Certification assessment) explains stands for reassurance and minimal ensure compliance with all regula-
Welcome
to GCAL’s third newsletter. Our goal
remains to bring you the most
important updates from our grading
lab and around the industry, but for
this issue we chose to focus on our
products. Why? Simply because, in
this difficult economic environment,
you should be aware of the ways to
get the most for your money and the
best values for your customers. The
GCAL difference is tangible, and our
products and services will give you a
welcome boost in diamond sales
and customer satisfaction.
“in this difficult economic
environment, you should
be aware of the ways to
get the most for your
money and the best values
for your customers”
From grading certificates with a
Zero-Tolerance Money Back Guaran-
tee to exclusive security measures
like Gemprint®, GCAL’s goal is to
offer the best value for the most
useful product. The inside of this
newsletter will give you details on
specific services, while also
introducing you to brand new
specialized certificates that allow for
accessibility for a wide range of
different needs.
As you’ll see, the depth of GCAL’s
products and services is vast. For
further detailed information, log on
to www.gemfacts.com or email
dap@gemfacts.com to receive
brochures and literature that will
enhance your knowledge of GCAL
benefits.
Guaranteed Diamond
Grading Certificate
Our most popular certificate,
affectionately known as ‘The 5-Star,’
bundles the Identification, 4Cs and
Light Performance information into
one consumer-friendly document.
Perfect for round and fancy shapes!
GCAL’s mini Guaranteed
Diamond Grading Certificate
is a hard plastic card that highlights
the most significant information
found on the full size certificate.
The credit-card size certificate is
printed in full color on both sides,
making an attractive presentation for
your display cases. Best of all, the
mini Guaranteed Diamond Grading
Certificate is included with every full
size certificate.
Published by: GCAL
Publisher: Donald A. Palmieri
Editor: Pamela Palmieri
Creative Director: Matan Sella
Princess Ideal Cut
Guaranteed Diamond
Grading Certificate
Outstanding princess cut diamonds
that attain Excellent grades in Light
Performance and Finish earn the
Princess Ideal Cut Guaranteed
Diamond Grading Certificate.
Source Veritas Passport
gives customers confidence that
their diamond followed a legitimate
supply chain from sources that
guarantee that the mining and sale
of the diamond did not fund conflict.
Source Veritas assures that each
diamond is cut from a stone compli-
ant with the Kimberley Process and
the 2003 Clean Diamond Act.
Contributors: Angelo Palmieri,
Dan Gillen, Sharrie Woodring Hand,
Neil Meany, Jason Stine
Production: Linda Osofsky
Ideal Cut Guaranteed
Diamond Grading Certificate
Exceptional diamonds that achieve
Cut Grade Guaranteed
Diamond Grading Certificate
When your round brilliant diamonds
Customized Guaranteed
Diamond Grading Certificate
Increase your brand recognition with
You Asked and We Responded!
Excellent grades in all cut grade
categories are worthy of a distinctive
‘make the grade,’ they deserve a
certificate that emphasizes the
a customized co-branded certificate
that will help differentiate your GCAL unveils five new specialized Certificates
Ideal Cut Guaranteed Diamond quality of their cut. This certificate business for long-term growth and
Grading Certificate. highlights the cut by grading Light increased profitability. Call GCAL While we have always been committed to
Performance, Finish and Propor- today to set up a program. offering the most comprehensive Certifi-
tions into one Cut Grade. cates on the market, over the years many of
our customers have asked that specific
features be offered independently of our
stellar Guaranteed Diamond Grading
Certificate. Until now, we had bundled
exclusive features—like Gemprint® or
optical light performance—into a single
document. But as of April 15, GCAL has
unveiled five new specialized certificates
DiamondID® (mini-card) DiamondProfile® (mini-card)
that offer our clients a way to get the only with Diamond Typing Certificate
the information they need at a price that
makes sense.
is a patented process that positively identi-
fies and registers a diamond, backed by
is a certificate providing DiamondID® and
Gemprint®, as well as Diamond Profile®
According to Donald A. Palmieri, these our Gemprint® optical fingerprint of the Optical Light Performance, including
certificates address the growing need for diamond. It also includes the classification Optical Brilliance and Optical Symmetry.
many of GCAL’s exclusive products like of type, (i.e. Type Ia, Type IIa, etc.) based
positive identification and light perfor- on the presence or absence of nitrogen In Lab Service $35 per diamond*
mance. “This new group of certificates absorption as identified in the mid-infrared
allows accessibility for different needs, and region of the spectrum. The DiamondID®
helps us to broaden our audience.” Look
through the images and descriptions on this
with Diamond Typing is available on
faceted and rough diamonds.
page for information, and log on to
www.gemfacts.com for detailed descrip- In Lab Service $75 per diamond*
tions.
GCAL Gemfacts
Digital Certificate
You can offer the next generation in
diamond certification with the GCAL DiamondID® (mini-card) DiamondProfile® GCAL GemAudit™
is a patented process that positively identi- is a full Guaranteed Diamond Grading
Gemfacts Digital Certificate. The
fies and registers a diamond, backed by
Certificate with Cut Grade Certificate verifying the accuracy of
Gemfacts CD includes all of the is a certificate (mini card or full document)
information found on the classic Laser inscription GCAL’s Market Monitor® our Gemprint® optical fingerprint of the
providing DiamondID® and Gemprint®, as
another lab’s grading report. If the diamond
GCAL Guaranteed Diamond Grading Consultation Reports is included in every GCAL Guaran- (formerly Palmieri’s Market diamond. This certificate gives customers
well as Diamond Profile® Optical Light
meets GCAL’s grading standards, then it
Monitor®) is the go-to industry a 10% discount on insurance, and there is qualifies for certification and GCAL’s “Zero
Certificate, and gives your customer With Consultation Reports, manu- Pre-Grade Services teed Grading Certificate. When
publication for the most up-to-date an inventory program for high volume
Performance, and a GCAL Cut Grade
Tolerance” 4Cs Consumer Guarantee.
the ability to view and save a copy of facturers can get answers to are an affordable way to be informed your diamonds are certified at including evaluation of Proportions and
their diamond certificate on their questions about specific stones in GCAL, they are automatically laser and accurate information on the clients. This service can be performed in Additionally, you receive Optical Light
of diamond characteristics before a Finish.
home or office computer. terms of grading. Questions asked inscribed to your specifications with diamond marketplace. GCAL’s our lab or remotely in a dealer’s office or a Performance, Gemprint® and images of the
full Certificate is issued. If you
include: How can I repolish for an a corresponding certificate number. Donald A. Palmieri is a certified jewelry store. diamond.
choose not to certify the diamond at
Excellent grade? What is this This service is also available Master Gemologist Appraiser and a
the time of the pre-grade service, In Lab Service $45 per diamond*
580 Fifth Ave LL New York, NY 10036 stone’s potential for IF status? How independently of certification. veteran in the jewelry and gemstone In Lab Service - $25 per diamond* In Lab Service Only -
GCAL will maintain this data for an *Add laser inscription & microphotography to
212-869-8985 | dap@gemfacts.com industry. To sign up to receive a Remote Service - Call for Quote Price Varies by Weight & Volume
will recutting help the grade of this extended period of time for future any of the above - $15 - $20 per diamond.
www.gemfacts.com copy, email dap@gemfacts.com.
chipped stone? certification.
© Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc. 2008. All Rights Reserved.