Dr. Hanco Zwaan, PhD, F.G.A
Hanco Zwaan is curator of minerals and gems at Naturalis Biodiversity Center and head of the Netherlands Gem Laboratory, in Leiden, the Netherlands.
Dr. Zwaan has a PhD from Free University of Amsterdam on Geology. He specialized on the formation of emeralds, but published articles on a variety of other gemmological and mineralogical topics as well. He teaches the Netherlands Gem Laboratory’s education program in association with Gem-A, London (Gemmology Foundation and Gemmology Diploma, leading to the world-wide recognised qualification FGA), and is also involved in education leading to the European Gemmology diploma (FEEG).
Hanco Zwaan is currently president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) Gemmological Commission, dealing with nomenclature issues and laboratory best practices. On behalf of this commission he is also co-chairing a committee on gem varietal names, dealing with variety definitions and trade names.
Thursday 16th Feb
Panel - Fei Cui Jade
Jadeite jade, as it is known in Western markets, ranks second only to diamonds by value as a jewellery category worldwide. In China, these fibrous polycrystalline aggregates, composed solely or principally of the minerals jadeite, omphacite and kosmochlor, or any combination of the three, are known as Fei Cui (翡翠).
With this terminology question on the table, CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has been working to create a single, clearly defined and universally accepted set of standards, practices and nomenclature.
Moderator: Jessica Han
