The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has released a GIA GemPassbook™ to be used for advance purchase of two of its coloured stone identification services: the GIA Identification Report and the GIA Origin Report. Each passbook contains 50 pre-paid GIA GemPasses™ that can be redeemed for identification or country-of-origin services. The identification GemPasses are priced at US$50 each, and passes for country-of-origin services at US$100. Each GIA GemPass is valid for one service per stone, regardless of gemstone size. %% “We hope our new GemPassbooks will make GIA identification services more affordable and accessible to the colored stone industry,” said Tom Moses, senior vice president, GIA Laboratory and Research. “GIA GemPasses are also transferable, meaning our clients can extend these savings to their customers.” Passbooks can be purchased and redeemed at GIA Laboratories in New York, Carlsbad or Bangkok. The GIA Identification Reports give a detailed assessment of type of gem material- its characteristics of colour, transparency, shape, cut, dimensions, weight, a color photo of the gem, and declares if the material is natural or synthetic, or treated to enhance its appearance. A GIA Origin Report, available only for ruby, sapphire, emerald and tourmaline, includes all the details of a GIA Identification Report, and an opinion on country-of-origin.