ICA PRESS RELEASE

ICA launches In Color – the hot new-look of the ICA Gazette

New York, August 16, 2005 - The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) announced that it has launched InColor, a new magazine replacing the association’s two decade-old ICA Gazette.

The launch of the revamped magazine comes on the heels of a number of structural changes within the ICA including the creation of the ICA Communications Committee (ICA-CC), which envisioned the updated design for the magazine and a more structured editorial policy.

Jean Claude Michelou, ICA-CC chair and ICA vice president, said that “while we have replaced the name ICA Gazette and revamped the magazine’s design, we have by no means discarded its mission, which, in keeping with the ICA’s principles, is to promote the understanding, appreciation and sale of colored gemstones throughout the world.”

Michelou also pointed to changes in the magazine’s format. “By offering a cover story, a news section and two regular feature articles, we have done away with the old newsletter approach to the publication and adopted a modern look. We believe that this will make the magazine more attractive and easier to read, and that it fills a vacuum in the market, caused by the absence of an international trade publication that focuses specifically on the vertical colored gemstone industry, from mine to market,” he enthused.
ICA Executive Director Barbara Lipatapanlop, who together with Michelou will serve as executive editor of the magazine, said that the launch comes at an excellent time, as the ICA is increasing its influence in the industry. “The ICA is growing and attracting more members every month. Our magazine is also enjoying a budding readership outside of the association. With the new InColor magazine, we will continue to inform readers of the organization’s activities and developments, and bring them news about events in the colored gemstone pipeline from mine to market. This will enhance the ICA’s role as a primary source of information about colored gemstones and the colored gemstone business,” she stated.

######

Editors, MarCom managers, media relations officers and other interested parties, if you are not yet on our magazine’s mailing list but would like to be included, please send an e-mail to gembureau@gemstone.org or to ica@gemstone.org, advising of your full contact details (name, job description, company/organization, address/pob, telephone, fax, email and website).

The International Colored Gemstone Association, headquartered in New York City and operating additional "GemBureaus" in Idar-Oberstein/ Germany, Bangkok/ Thailand and Dubai/ UAE, is the nonprofit trade association that represents the international colored gemstone industry, an extremely important and influential segment of the jewelry business. ICA has over 500 members in 46 countries worldwide.