The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has donated $125,000 to the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) Endowment Fund for Colored Gemstone Research. In recognition of the gift, Douglas K. Hucker, AGTA’s executive director, will be inducted into GIA’s League of Honor on Oct. 12, during the annual dinner in New York City. A classroom at GIA’s Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad will be named after the organization.

AGTA and GIA have a long history of collaboration. Scientists from the AGTA Gemological Testing Center in New York City worked with GIA Research to address the sudden appearance of large Chinese freshwater cultured pearls on the market in the late 1990s. Most recently, both teams studied heat-treated blue sapphires with unusual color zoning.

The organization’s donation will be invested in GIA’s permanent endowment fund to generate funds for colored gemstone research as requested by AGTA.

For more information about the GIA Endowment Fund, call (800) 421-7250, ext. 4114. Outside the United States, call (760) 603-4114.