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AGTA Rejoins CIBJO After 7-Year Absence
The association also announced it will present at the CIBJO Congress this fall.
CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri (right) and AGTA CEO John W. Ford Sr., at the JCK Show in Las Vegas in June 2023. AGTA recently announced it has rejoined as a member of CIBJO.
Milan—The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) announced it has rejoined The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) after seven years.
AGTA, founded in 1981, is considered one of the leading associations in the world for colored gemstone professionals with more than 1,000 members in the U.S. and Canada.
“AGTA is pleased to rejoin CIBJO,” said John W. Ford Sr., CEO of AGTA.
“CIBJO is a vital group devoted to upholding uniform nomenclature and industry standards built on the expertise of its members. These practices reside at the core of AGTA, which is delighted to realign with CIBJO’s well-respected commissions and efforts.”
AGTA also announced it will attend the 2023 CIBJO Congress this fall, Oct. 3–5 in Jaipur, India—a significant location for colored gemstones’ manufacturing and trade.
“We are delighted to welcome AGTA back into our ranks, and particularly at this most appropriate juncture,” said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri.
“The upcoming CIBJO Congress will, of course, focus on all sectors and activities in the jewelry, gemstone, and precious metals industries, but given the fact that it is being hosted on one of the world’s most important colored gemstone centers, there will be an added emphasis on that critically important business community. AGTA’s voice and participation will be essential.”
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AGTA, founded in 1981, is considered one of the leading associations in the world for colored gemstone professionals with more than 1,000 members in the U.S. and Canada.
“AGTA is pleased to rejoin CIBJO,” said John W. Ford Sr., CEO of AGTA.
“CIBJO is a vital group devoted to upholding uniform nomenclature and industry standards built on the expertise of its members. These practices reside at the core of AGTA, which is delighted to realign with CIBJO’s well-respected commissions and efforts.”
AGTA also announced it will attend the 2023 CIBJO Congress this fall, Oct. 3–5 in Jaipur, India—a significant location for colored gemstones’ manufacturing and trade.
“We are delighted to welcome AGTA back into our ranks, and particularly at this most appropriate juncture,” said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri.
“The upcoming CIBJO Congress will, of course, focus on all sectors and activities in the jewelry, gemstone, and precious metals industries, but given the fact that it is being hosted on one of the world’s most important colored gemstone centers, there will be an added emphasis on that critically important business community. AGTA’s voice and participation will be essential.”
At the congress, Ford, along with AGTA Board President Kimberly Collins and Colorado School of Mines Ph.D. Student Jenna White, will provide an exclusive update on the AGTA and Mines’ Transparent & Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Research Project.
The project’s goal is to identify best practices in the colored stone industry and improve transparency and traceability, ethics, environmental sustainability, and human rights within it.
The initial stage of the project, which includes site visits to Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria, will have concluded at the time of the update.
The insights precede the full research release, which is planned for AGTA GemFair Tucson in February 2024.
The rejoining announcement comes three months after the death of CIBJO Vice President, Roland Naftule.
Cavalieri said Naftule was responsible for the creation and maintenance of the CIBJO Blue Book series, the organization’s set of industry standards and nomenclature.
“Roland was also one of the three founding members of AGTA and served as its president from 1983 through 1985. AGTA’s rejoining of CIBJO would have meant a great deal to him,” said Cavalieri.
AGTA’s Collins added, “I am thrilled AGTA is reacquainting itself with CIBJO, which was so dear to the late Roland Naftule, one of our founding members.”
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