Russ Shor, Guy Borenstein Among Speakers for 2023 AGA Vegas Conference
Online registration is open now for the annual event and early-bird savings will end May 28.

Scheduled for Thursday, June 1, at the Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa, the half-day event will feature internationally renowned experts on both colorless and fancy color diamonds.
AGA said speakers will provide diamond-focused education, news and information about technologies in the global diamond sector. The talks will be followed by a reception.
Sessions will start at 1:45 p.m. PDT, beginning with Guy Borenstein, chief gemologist at Stuller Inc.
Borenstein is slated to discuss screening technologies for lab-grown diamonds as well as each growing technique’s limitations and blind spots, as determined from Stuller’s screening tests experience.
Following Borstein will be the Fancy Color Research Foundation’s Fancy Color Diamond Business Expert David S. Rhodes and CEO Miri Chen.
The pair will explain the grading methodology and the important elements and characteristics to focus on when analyzing fancy color diamonds. They also will discuss the pricing principles that determine the value of fancy color diamonds, auction prices, and the fancy color diamond price index.
The conference will end with Russell Shor, senior diamond industry analyst at Russell Shor Communications and Consulting, who will provide a discussion on natural diamonds versus lab-grown diamonds.
Following the sessions, AGA will host a cocktail and networking reception beginning at 6 p.m.
Advanced purchase registration and savings are available until 11 p.m. on May 28. Ticketing options include conference and reception, or reception only.
AGA member tickets to conference and reception are $125 and non-member tickets are $150. Reception-only tickets are $89.
After May 28, it will cost $175 for conference and reception tickets, and $115 for reception-only tickets.
Industry friends, co-workers, and spouses are welcome to attend.
More information is available on the AGA’s website. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Vendor tables are available for the conference. Email Raymond Mason, azgemlab@gmail.com, or call 602-615-2116 for more information.
The Latest

Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.

The National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.

Late collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.

Roseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.

At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.


The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.

The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.

From educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.

Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.

All proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.

Courtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.

De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.

Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.

Kindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.

The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”

The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.

Ahead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.

Stuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.

Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.

Citrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.

The family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.

The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.

The trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.

The “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.

The ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.

This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.

The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.





















