About the Sinkankas Symposium

The Sinkankas Symposium has been described as the most important gemological conferences in North America by respected authorities on gemstones. The annual event is named for John Sinkankas (1915–2002), one of the most distinguished and influential figures in gemology and mineralogy. Every year, presentations on a featured gem theme are given by specialists in diverse gem-related disciplines.

Organized by Roger Merk for 13 years (2003–2015), the Sinkankas Symposium is co-sponsored by the Gemological Society of San Diego (GSSD) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), with generous support from Bill Larson from the event’s inception. Prior to 2021, the one-day event has been hosted at the GIA worldwide headquarters and Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, California.


Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium – Alexandrite and Other Color-Change Gemstones

The theme of the Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium is Alexandrite and Other Color-Change Gemstones. In 2022, it will be presented in a virtual format hosted on the Sinkankas Eventbrite web page at 2022-sinkankas-symposium.eventbrite.com. Registration is required and the fee for this year's event is $25.00 (For more information, visit the official website at: sinkankassymposium.net.  The virtual experience will feature a menu of ten pre-recorded 30-minute exclusive presentations available to view on-demand from Monday, April 25, 2022 until Monday, June 6, 2022. Sinkankas Eventbrite page Printed proceedings of Eighteenth Annual Sinkankas Symposium will be available for purchase via this portal for a limited time beginning April 1, ending June 6, 2022. Printed proceedings of past events dating to 2014 will be available for purchase as well.

For more details about the Sinkankas Symposium, visit the official web at sinkankassymposium.net.

Sinkankas Symposium printed proceedings

Specifications: 8.25" x 10.75", digital press, full color, soft cover, perfect binding. Cost: $39.00 + sales tax (where applicable) + shipping (varies based on destination) Limited offer: Orders placed between Friday, April 10 and June 6, 2022 will ship by July 1, 2022. Please allow up to 21 days for delivery. No other print runs are planned for 2022.