President & Co-founder, Guild Institute of Gemology
With 38 years of experience in the gem and jewelry industry, Andrew Lucas is a leading expert in field gemology, education, and research. He is the President and Co-founder of the Guild Institute of Gemology, as well as the Senior Vice President of Guild Gem Laboratories Shenzhen and President of Guild Gem Laboratories Bangkok.
Lucas spent 28 years at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), where he played a pivotal role in developing educational courses and managing field gemology research. His extensive work in the mine-to-market supply chain has taken him across the globe to collect critical gemological research samples. A prolific author, he has published three books, numerous articles, and field reports, contributing significantly to the advancement of gemological knowledge.
Many changes have occurred in the China colored gemstone and jewelry industry post covid, with 2024 and the first quarter of this year seeing the most dramatic changes. The entire supply chain structure has seen disruption, with leading players changing, fierce competition, and entirely new market channels. This is all in an atmosphere of reduced and cautious consumer luxury products and discretionary income spending. The market moves fast, and it moves powerfully in varied directions. While the industry has seen a drop in the second half of 2024, there are new movers and shakers seizing market share and developing new strategies changing the dynamics of the traditional industry business model. As we examine statistics and demographics combined with our insight and perception, it becomes clear that innovation and international cooperation are the paths to future growth. And the potential for growth is still very strong.
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