MEMORABLE MOMENTS

OUR BEGINNING

Waing Kong Ho began his career in the gem trade in Burma. However, in 1964 when the country was being nationalized, he moved his family to Thailand with only $30 in his pocket. Ho's honesty and modesty was appreciated by buyers and sellers alike, and his name soon became well known throughout the international gem and jewelry community.

Ho was one of the true pioneers of the Thai gemstone industry and is recognized for bringing modernity and growth to a country that was fast becoming the "Gemstone Capital of the World." His vision brought forth the founding of AIGS nearly 40 years ago. Waing Kong Ho is also credited for building Asia's largest gems and jewelry marketplace, the Jewelry Trade Center(JTC).

Ho's success is attributed to his sacrifices, dedication and a relentless commitment to sharing his knowledge to help others. Waing Kong Ho's spirit lives in our hearts as we express our sincere gratitude for all that he accomplished during his life.

1997

Jeff Wildman and AIGS Chairman Emeritus Henry Ho invented the “Porta-Lab” laboratory.
1977

1978

The 4th floor of the Rama Jewelry was AIGS first office location for conducting the gem training courses and gem testing services.

1978

Gemologists utilize the Raman Spectrophotometer and set the bar for others to follow.

AIGS was the first laboratory in the world to purchase a Raman spectrophotometer for gemstone reports.

1978

AIGS graduation party. Front row from left; Robert Weiser. Waing Kong Ho, Mr. Ma, Rechard Brown, Anand Salwala, Henry Ho and halpin Ho.

AIGS established in Rama Jewelry Building.

1978

1988

Mogok Visit
AIGS's the first foreign-based laboratory team to enter the Mogok gemstone tract.

From left: Dr. Edward Gubelin, Alan Jobbins (Gem-A), hill tribe lady, Mogok miner, Henry Ho, Burma Gem Emporium Director.

1988

AIGS founder Waing Kong Ho headed up a group con sisting of Dr. Edward Gublin, Alan Jobbins, Ken Scarrett and Dr. Adolf Peretti in Mogok.

1988

Waing Kong Ho leads AIGS to visit Vietnam's Luc Yen mines together with Dr. Edward Gubelin, Alan Jobbins, Ken Scarett and Adi Peretti.

Vietnam Visit
The first Asia-based laboratory to visit Vietnam's Luc Yen ruby mines.

1988

1992

60 stones, serialized and lasered with Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's name were exmined and reported by AIGS Lab.

AIGS diamond reports were issued for the Queen Sirikit Diamond collection.

1992

The HRH Princess Chulabhorn admires the 60 facet Queen Sirikit Cut Diamonds at the Sala Saha Thai Palace.

1992

The Queen's Brilliant Cut has also received a patent and has been named in honor of Her Majesty as the Queen Sirikit Brilliant Diamond.

1992

1993

Henry Ho, Alan Lam and diamond expert cutter Henry Grossbard meet with Head of the Mineral Resources and Mining Ministry.

Sierra Leone Visit AIGS led an exploratory trip to Sierra Leone to investigate and examine samples from the diamond deposits.

1993

Waing Kong Ho and Alan Lam visit the Mineralogical and Gemological Association of China (now National Gemstone Testing Center - NGTC) and was hosted by Zhang Pei Li, NGTC Chair lady.

China Visit

1993

1994

Seminar Series organized by AIGS

Dr. Edward Gubelin presents a talk on "Inclusions in Gemstones" organized jointly by AIGS and Chulalongkorn University (1994).

1994
1994

Seen here are the principals of the HRD, AIGS and The Belgian Embassy, Thailand together in a press conference to announce the cooperation between the two loading institutes in the training of grading diamonds based on the European standards.

The opening of the Asian Diamond Office with AIGS to offer diamond grading program in Thailand by HRD, Belgium leading gemological institute and laboratory.

1994

1995

Seminar Series organized by AIGS

1995

Seminar Series organized by AIGS

1995

AIGS hosted the 1st International Gemological Conference in Thailand. Over 140 participants from 33 countries have attended.

Host the International Gemological Conference (IGC). Over 140 participants from 33 countries attended.

1995

1996

AIGS issues a comprehensive gemological report on the Golden Jubilee Diamond weighing at 545 carats. the world's largest faceted diamond.

The Golden Jubilee Diamond was christened by HM King Bhumibhol on the occasion of his Majesty's 50th Anniversary accession to the throne.

1996

Henry Ho is granted an audience with Pope St.John Paul II to receive blessings for the "Golden Jubilee Diamond" and prayers for Thailand King Bhumibol's full recovery in health.

1996

1997

Jewelry Trade Center Ground Breaking Ceremony
Asia's largest gems and jewelry marketplace, the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC). This multi-purpose building is comprised of 180,000 square meters of office, retail and residential space, situated on 59 floors. Now, twenty years after opening, the JTC continues as one of the world's most prominent gemstone and jewelry trading hubs.

Police General Pao Sarasin and Smarit Chirathivat, Chairman of Central Group of Companies, Waing Kong Ho, Chairman of the Ho Group of Companies and Anand Salwala, chairman of Thai Lapidary lays the foundation stone in front of the Jewelry Trade Center.

1997

AIGS school and lab are currently located on the 48th floor and B1 floor respectively at the prestigious Jewelry Trade Center at 919 Silom Road.

1997

1998

Issued diamond reports for the King Bhumipol Diamond collection.

1998

D flawless round brilliant HM King's Cut diamonds were graded by AIGS Lab before setting into the all hand made Swiss watch brand Sarcar.

1998

2003

AIGS Lab was among the first to detect sapphire diffusion treatments for corundums. Coloration "entered" the surface of the gems and a dialogue was initiated to classify this new treatment among major labs around the world.

2003

2004

AIGS Lab was the first to report and to inform the trade warning all to be aware of the glass filling treatment in low quality rubies "transforming" them into "fine" quality ones.

2004

2005

In 2005, AIGS and Gubelin Lab Switzerland conducted a joint research project to collect scientific data of gem samples from different localities of the world. The gemstone database would become one of the most important to determine "country of origin"

2005
2005

2013

The pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) signed an MoU with the Bangkok-based Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences (AIGS) . by PIFD's Vice Chancellor Hina Tayyaba, on the AIGS side, General Manager Ms. Benyaphat Chatchonbut establishing a formal collaborative framework.

PIFD Sings MoU with AIGS

2013

2014

Kennedy Ho, Chairman of AIGS and Benyapat Chatchonbut, General Manager of the Ho Group visits with Mr. Bi Lijun, Director of the National Gemological Testing Center, China and Dr. Lu, Director of NGTC Lab and representatives.

AIGS visit NGTC.

2014

2015

Started cooperating with Chinese gemological universities

  • Shanghai Jianqiao College
  • China University of Geosciences, Wuhan
  • Tongji University Zhejiang College

Singing Coopration agreement between AIGS and Jianqiao University,

2015

AIGS Chairman Kennedy Ho and Mr.Chen Xiaolong, Dean of Tongji University Zhejiang college signs a Memorandum of Understanding for Research, Education and Training Cooperation.

2015

AIGS Chairman Kennedy Ho and Mr.Yang Mingxing, Dean of China University of Geosciences, Wuhan signs a Memorandum of Understanding for Student Exchange Program and Gemological Collaboration Projects.

2015

2017

World Ruby Forum
The Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, the Gemological Institute of Thailand, the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences and the French Gemological Association joins together in an opening ceremony of the World's Most Beautiful Ruby contest 2017.

2017
2017
2017

Admiring the "World's Most Beautiful Ruby Exhibition" from left are Wisut Ittipornvanich, Didier Giard, President of the French Gemological Association, Apiradi Tantraporn, Minister the Ministry of Commerce, Henry Ho Chairman Emeritus of AIGS and Santpal Sinchawla , Director of the International Colored Stones Association.

2017

The World's Most Beautiful Ruby Contest 2017 with winning pieces displayed at the September Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair.

2017

"The Ruby Heart of Love" donations for the Thai Medical Device Development Foundation (TMDD) Under Royal Patronage of King Rama IX.

2017