The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) will renew its preparation and distribution of its “ICA Lab Alerts.” The service is designed to provide members of the international gemological, colored gemstone, and jewelry industries with new and important information regarding the discovery, detection and identification of treatments and enhancements of natural gemstones, synthetic gemstones, and gemstone simulants, the organization said in a statement.

ICA distributed ICA Lab Alerts for five years during the 1990s, after which the service was discontinued. The organization said it decided to renew the service due to the proliferation of new technologies and processes in the treatment and enhancement of gemstones, as well as the creation of synthetics and simulants.

The new ICA Lab Alert will be distributed via e-mail by the ICA head office and/or the ICA Gem Bureau. Gemologists and other trade professionals who wish to be included in the lab alerts should contact Kim Miller at ica@gemstone.org, or fax inquiries to (212) 352-9054.

JCK