The 22 Best Quotes from AGS Conclave 2024
Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares the standout moments from the education sessions she attended in Austin last week.
I missed it.
AGS Conclave has always been one of my favorite industry events. It’s the perfect length (three days), and the perfect blend of education, networking, and fun, a testament to the AGS team and board, all of whom know how to put together a well-organized, well-run event.
Conclave 2024, held in Austin, Texas, did not disappoint.
While it would be impossible to summarize all the education sessions I attended in a single article, I did want to share some of my favorite quotes from the three days I spent in the Texas capital.
On Sex Trafficking in the Marange Diamond Fields
“Diamonds came before the community; it was a community first. That shift into being a mining community brought about a lot of challenges, especially for women.”
— Abigail Sibanda of the Marange Women’s Alliance (MWA)
“And that diamond is finding its way to Antwerp, it’s finding its way to the United States. There are women who are being exploited in the background and nobody is talking about them.”
— Sibanda
“Talk to somebody about this. That will make a difference.”
— Brandee Dallow of Grandview Klein Diamonds
“Female Sex Trafficking in Diamond Mining (Marange, Zimbabwe)” was the most impactful session I attended.
Featuring Sibanda, Dallow and Susan Wheeler of the Responsible Jewelry Transformative, the session detailed how women and girls as young as 13 are lured to Chiadzwa, the area where the Marange diamond fields are located, with the promise of work in the diamond mines only to be trafficked for sex.
Wheeler said MWA is circulating a petition it will be asking diamond industry leaders to sign to pledge their support, cooperation, and engagement with MWA to make the changes needed in order to protect women.
You can sign it too; it’s available online.
On Leadership and Self-Awareness
“I don’t think it’s ever been a tougher time than it is now to lead.”
“When you get feedback you don’t understand, the first thing you have to do is run it by someone else.”
“As a leader, how much are using that lever of vulnerability?”
“Leadership is what people do when you’re not in the room.”
“So many leaders are surrounded by walls, mirrors, and liars.”
These five quotes came from Tasha Eurich, one of Conclave’s featured speakers this year, though she credited the “walls, mirrors, and liars” quote to Dutch psychoanalyst Manfred Kets de Vries.
I enjoyed her presentation, “Leading With Insight—How Self-Awareness Helps Teams Work and Win Together,” particularly her quote about vulnerability, which highlighted the importance of admitting your imperfections as a leader in order to make yourself more relatable.
On Lab-Grown Diamonds
“I would just caution you from talking about future valuation.”
— Tiffany Stevens of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee
“The word ‘investment’ should never be in anybody’s sales presentation. It should never come out of the mouth of anybody in your store.”
— Joel Hassler of Von Hasle Jewelers
“Every industry is going through disruptions.”
— Rob Bates of JCK online and magazine
“I think the natural diamond business is going to be smaller going forward.”
— Bates
Stevens and Hassler were speaking on a panel titled “Laboratory-Grown Diamonds—Policies, Procedures, and Pricing: What the Retailer Needs to Know,” and, of course, the subject of future value came up.
Bates, meanwhile, was speaking on another panel, “360-Degree View of 2024: Industry Market Outlook, Expert Insights, and Business Opportunities.”
His quote about “disruptions” was in reference to the fact that things are changing for the players in every industry, e.g., hotels with AirBnB, taxis with ride-sharing services, etc., and brought some outside perspective to the discussion.
On Transparency
“Just start asking questions and see how much transparency there is.”
“Don’t be afraid to fail. On your journey of trying to do things differently you’re going to have roadblocks, you’re going to have stumbles. But I’m not giving up … It’s not easy, but it’s worth the effort.”
These quotes are both from Melissa Quick of Steve Quick Jewelers. She was talking about her journey in trying to source gold responsibly for her store during a panel on the gold supply chain titled “Recycled, Repurposed, Fairmined … Oh My!”
On the Rising Price of Gold
“We’ve been through this before, but it was when gold first shot past $1,000.”
— Larry Rickert of Jim Kryshak Jewelers
“Manufacturers, be careful with your pricing because we are price sensitive and so are our customers.”
— Rickert
“Platinum is having a moment … and it’s obviously completely tied to the gold price.”
— Chris Casey of Tenoris
The price of gold, which was about $2,333/ounce as of press time, came up during the “360-Degree View of 2024” session.
This Advice Is Bananas, B-a-n-a-n-a-s
“‘You wouldn’t believe’—I think those are the three most powerful words in marketing, in business.”
“You guys know you’re not in the jewelry business. You’re in something much more powerful than that.”
“If you’re doing normal, nobody is going to talk about it. Attention beats marketing 1,000 percent of the time.”
“We’re not remembered for our failures; we’re remembered for our hits.”
These final four quotes are from the event’s opening keynote speaker Jesse Cole, founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas, the Harlem Globetrotters of the baseball world. Cole talked a lot about he and his team’s philosophy around creating a memorable experience.
Look for a longer story later this week on his presentation from National Jeweler Associate Editor and my fellow 2024 Conclave attendee Lenore Fedow.
I hope everyone who attended Conclave enjoyed it and, if there are great quotes I missed, please feel free to email them to me at michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
If I missed you in Austin, I hope to see you in Vegas.
The Latest
Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.
With Ho Brothers, you can unlock your brand's true potential and offer customers the personalized jewelry experiences they desire.
The jeweler credits its recent “Be Love” campaign and ongoing brand revamp for its 17 percent jump in sales.
The co-founder of Lewis Jewelers was also the longtime mayor of the city of Moore.
Elvis Presley gifted this circa 1967 gold and diamond watch to Dodie Marshall, his co-star in “Easy Come, Easy Go.”
Concerns about rising prices, politics, and global conflicts continue to dampen consumer outlook.
May’s birthstone is beloved for its rich green hue and its versatility.
Jacqui Larsson joins Opsydia with nearly two decades of experience in the industry.
Last month in Dallas, David Walton pushed another jeweler, David Ettinger, who later died.
The “Tiffany Céleste” collection reimagines designer Jean Schlumberger’s interpretations of the universe.
The brand also created a 100-carat lab-grown diamond necklace in honor of its centennial.
Tim Schlick has been promoted from his previous position as COO.
It’s the second year for the event, slated to take place in October in Toronto.
Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Sales will be paused while the relocation takes place over the next few months.
“SIS x MISA Denim and Diamonds” is a collaboration between the designer and celebrity stylist Misa Hylton.
The retailer is moving to a newly designed space in the same shopping center.
Gifts that are unique and thoughtful are top of mind this year, according to the annual survey.
The necklace is featured in the brand’s “Rebel Heart” campaign starring Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo.
The two organizations will host a joint event, “Converge,” in September 2025.