Would you like to join the ICA?

The International Colored Gemstone Association is a non-profit association which was founded in 1983 to represent the international gemstone industry. The ICA is the first and only organization working to increase the understanding, appreciation, and sales of colored gemstones worldwide.

ICA members, the top gemstone miners, cutters, and dealers throughout the world, adhere to the highest ethical standards: no dispute handled by the association's ethics and grievance committee has ever remained unresolved. The ICA's goal is to build closer international cooperation between all levels of the gemstone trade. ICA is working to develop a common language and consistent standards to improve communication between gemstone producing countries and gemstone consuming countries.

Through the ICA, the industry sponsors international gemstone education. The ICA sponsors the world's only gemstone information service, the ICA Gembureau in Israel and Idar-Oberstein, Germany. The Gembureau keeps the media informed about gemstone news around the world and provides photographs of gemstones and gemstone jewelry to the trade and consumer media worldwide.

Other ICA achievements and industry services include: a successful international early warning network of Laboratory Alerts on new gem treatments, synthetics, and imitations, which protects the industry and consumers around the world from deception; standard business terms to prevent cultural differences from causing trade disputes; gemstone nomenclature rules; and a bi-monthly member newsletter, the ICA Gazette, which keeps members up to date on gem news from around the world.

The world gemstone industry gathers once every two years at the ICA Congress. Congresses give the gemstone industry the opportunity to discuss and resolve issues that concern the gem trade and build the spirit of international cooperation. The last ICA Congress was held in Bangkok, Thailand February 2005.

Click here for definition of membership categories.

The membership dues are $600 per year and there is a $500 joining fee the first year only. For Persons under the age of 30, ICA offers a junior membership, dues are $300 per year and the joining fee is waived.

For more information, please write to ICA, 19 W 21st Street, Suite 705, New York, NY, 10010, USA, to request a membership package or use the online Membership Application